The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team lost 71-53 at Mount St. Mary's, Saturday, Jan. 27 in Emmitsburg, MD. Senior Mercedez Walker (Stratford, CT/Bunnell) (Stratford, CT) scored a career-high 14 points ? 10 coming in the second stanza ? as the Knights slipped to 7-12 on the year and 4-5 within the Northeast Conference.
Junior forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD/Westminster) (Westminster, MD) posted her ninth double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 boards.
Guard Dita Krumberga (Riga, Latvia) struck for 16 second-half points, en route to a game-high 21 to pace the Mountaineers (7-12, 5-4 NEC). Mount St. Mary's hit 21-of-25 attempts at the line on the afternoon.
Walkling dropped in the team's first two baskets of the game, as FDU jumped out to a 4-1 lead. Mount guard Dominique Mazzuchi (Springfield, VA) popped a three-ball four minutes after the tip ? marking the home-standing squad's first field goal ? tying the contest, 4-4.
The Mountaineers went on an 11-2 run, before Walker entered the game and knocked down two opportunities at the charity stripe to create a 12-8 deficit. The forward then notched her 100th career block on the defensive end (third all-time in program history).
Mount St. Mary's then rattled off six points in a row, expanding its lead to doubles-digits, 18-8, at the 8:22 mark. Freshman guard Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) (Avalon, NJ) answered, driving the lane and hitting a left-handed lay-in to end a 5:27 scoring drought from the field.
The Knights hit the break on the strength of a 6-0 surge, holding The Mount scoreless in the final 4:48 of the half. The Mountaineers held a 24-16 advantage, limiting Fairleigh Dickinson to a 23.1 shooting percentage, including 0-for-9 from behind the arc.
Walkling tallied back-to-back buckets on the right block, creating a 35-23 contest with 14:03 remaining, sparking an 8-1 push. Walker and sophomore forward Katie Warehime (Littlestown, PA/Littlestown) (Littlestown, PA) continued to work the paint and flash outside, combining for FDU's next 12 points.
“Mercedez came off the bench and provided a great spark for us,” Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. “She really stepped up for us offensively.”
Sykes (five steals) cashed-in on an old-fashioned three-point play ? amidst a 13-6 run ? creating a two-possession game, 46-40, at the 8:16 mark. The Knights kept the pressure on, posting seven-consecutive points to trail, 52-47, capped by a lay-up in transition courtesy of Walkling with 5:11 left.
“We didn't come out strong in the first-half, but managed to play smarter in the second-half,” Gordon said. “We cut it to four, but they shot over 60 percent in the second-half and to their credit always responded with big shots. Regardless, 24 turnovers isn't going to get it done, especially in a game of runs.”
The Mount sealed the game on an 18-4 run. Mountaineers guard Tiffany Green (Arlington, VA) contributed 16 points.
The Knights host Quinnipiac at 7:00 p.m., Monday, Jan. 29 at the Rothman Center. The Bobcats defeated FDU, 68-56, In Hamden, CT earlier this season.
