The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team dropped a 58-57 decision to Northeast Conference foe Mount St. Mary's December 22, 2007 in the Rothman Center. The Knights fall to 3-7 overall and 0-2 in the conference while the Mount improves to 2-8 overall and 1-1 in the league.
The Knights started the game on a 5-0 run as Shanay Freeman (Laurelton, NY/Towsend Harris) (Laurelton, NY) took Mercedez Walker (Stratford, CT/Bunnell)'s (Stratford, CT) opening tip in for a lay-up and an FDU steal on the ensuing defensive end led to a three-point field goal from Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) (Bayonne, NJ).
The Knights stretched their lead on a trey by Freeman, 10-5 and scored six unanswered points for a 16-7 edge. The Knights took a double digit lead, 27-15, with 1:17 left in the half on a Jasmyra Saunders (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Catholic) (Trenton, NJ) steal and fast break followed by a jumper by Freeman and a lay-in from Jen Walkling (Westminster, MD).
The Knights were able to hold the Mountaineers scoreless for the final 6:16 of the half. FDU went into the half with their largest lead, 14 points (29-15), shooting 43 percent from the floor, while holding the Mount to 25 percent (5-20). It marks the second straight game that the Knights have held their opponents to 15 or fewer points in the first stanza of play.
Fairleigh Dickinson had a 37-27 lead with 13:49 on the clock, but the Mount reeled off seven-straight points to cut the Knights' lead to three.
Saunders sank a three-pointer, but Tiffany Green (Arlington, VA) responded with a trey of her own to keep the Mountaineers in the game.
Hassanah Oliver (Hillside, NJ) drove to the hoop to trim the Knights? lead to two, 43-41, and Dominique Mazzuchi (Springfield, VA) connected on a pair from the line to tie the game with eight minutes remaining.
In the final eight minutes, the game saw six ties and seven lead changes.
Mazzuchi connected on a three-pointer to give Mount St. Mary's its first lead of the game, 52-51, with four minutes on the clock, but Walkling reclaimed the advantage for the Knights with a pair from the charity stripe.
Oliver took a steal down to the other end for a lay-up to give the Mount a 56-55 lead with only 30 seconds left in regulation, but Walkling calmly sank a pair from the free throw line with 15.3 seconds left.
Green sealed the game as she made the winning bucket with seven seconds remaining. Saunders was able to get a shot off before the horn sounded, but it bounced out.
Walkling led the Knights with a double-double, pouring in 18 points and grabbing a season-high 17 rebounds. Saunders added 12 points and Altamirano and Freeman each chipped in 11 points.
Green led the Mount with 14 points, while Oliver finished with 11.
The Knights are back in action on Dec. 28 when they play at Howard at 7:00 p.m.
