The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team notched their first victory of the 2007-08 campaign, 71-58, versus the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Saturday, Nov. 17 in Newark, NJ. Senior forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD/Westminster) (Westminster, MD) poured in a season-best 18 points and 11 rebounds, as the Knights improved to 1-2 overall.
Freshman guard Jenna Strich (Brick, NJ) registered a career-high 14 points ? including a quartet of three-balls ? and four steals. Senior guard Shanay Freeman (Laurelton, NY/Towsend Harris) (Laurelton, NY) recorded a season-best 17 points and a career-high seven steals.
Sophomore forward Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) (Bayonne, NJ) ? who posted nine points and eight boards ? knocked down a trey to open the afternoon, before NJIT went ahead, 4-3. Walkling took an outlet pass in stride, as FDU regained the lead, 5-4.
The Highlanders poured in five-straight, before Freeman crossed up her defender and swished a long pull-up. The Knights continued to chip away to an 18-14 deficit after junior center Shenika Chang (New York, NY/Park West) (New York, NY) tallied an offensive put-back and Strich connected from downtown.
NJIT scored another five-consecutive when senior center Mercedez Walker (Stratford, CT/Bunnell) (Stratford, CT) cut back door on the left baseline and popped a 10-footer. Strich struck again from behind the arc, creating a 25-21 contest with 9:24 remaining.
Freeman scored eight-straight for Fairleigh Dickinson ? tickling the twine on a pair of trifectas ? to knot the game, 29-29, at the 6:15 mark. The senior canned another three-ball with 2:19 left, putting the Knights up 36-35.
The home-standing Highlanders held a 37-36 advantage at the break, paced by Freeman's 13 points and Walkling's five boards, in addition to six points and four assists by Strich. NJIT shot 50% from the floor and out-rebounded the Knights, 19-12.
In the second stanza, freshman guard Jasmyra Saunders (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Catholic) (Trenton, NJ) penetrated the paint for an underhanded lay-in at the 16:14 mark, as FDU jumped on top, 41-40. Altamirano drove the lane and dished to Walkling for an inside deuce, then Walkling scored down low on the ensuing trip down the hardwood for a 45-42 lead.
Strich highlighted a 14-3 Fairleigh Dickinson run with two three-pointers. Walkling capped the surge at the line with 9:26 on the clock, giving the Knights' a 54-45 advantage.
Freeman swiped a pass at the top of the key and ran the floor for a lay-up, propelling FDU to a 64-50 lead with 4:14 remaining. Her spot-up from the right elbow at the 2:36 mark, and with the shot clock expiring, opened up an 18-point stronghold, 68-50.
Walker finished with a season-high five swats, while Chang added a season-best five rebounds.
Following his first Division I victory, Head Coach Peter Cinella said, ”We had success opening up the court with Freeman and Strich's outside shooting in the first-half and that really opened up the inside for Walkling in the second-half. It's good anytime to get a road win. We battled hard versus a tough team.”
NJIT freshman guard Jessica Gerald (Woolwich Township, NJ) paced the Highlanders (0-3) with 13 points. Sophomore forward Taiwo Oyelola (Roselle, NJ) added nine points and eight boards.
Fairleigh Dickinson plays University of Northern Arizona at 9:35 p.m., Friday, Nov. 23 in Flagstaff, AZ.
