The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team lost, 69-50, versus visiting Sacred Heart University, Monday, Feb. 12 at the Stratis Arenas at the Rothman Center in Hackensack, NJ. Junior forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD/Westminster) (Westminster, MD/Westminster) posted her eleventh double-double of the year with 10 points and a season-best 13 rebounds, as the Knights slipped to 8-15 overall and 5-8 in the Northeast Conference.
Freshman forward Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) recorded 10 points, four boards, four assists and three blocks.
The Pioneers (16-9, 11-3 NEC) jumped out to a 7-0 advantage within two minutes following tip-off. Junior guard Shanay Freeman (Laurelton, NY/Towsend Harris) (Laurelton, NY/Towsend Harris) got FDU on the board at the 17:31 mark with a dribble-drive baseline culminating in an old-fashioned three-point play.
Guard Lisa Moray (Hopewell Junction, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) drained her second three-ball of the contest with 15:08 remaining, capping an 8-0 response by Sacred Heart. Freshman guard Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) answered by popping a jumper from downtown, then dishing to Altamirano to ignite a 5-0 spurt and create a 15-8 game.
Freeman hit a pull-up in the paint, followed by a lay-up by Walkling with 11:01 left ? the result of an in-bounds play underneath the hoop ? and the Knights cut the deficit to 18-14.
Junior guard Megan Kirkland (Glen Allen, VA/Hermitage) (Glen Allen, VA/Hermitage) canned a trifecta at the 9:19 mark to create a one-possession contest, 20-17. A minute later, Freeman picked a pocket in the SHU backcourt and Walkling converted an easy deuce.
Freeman penetrated the paint for a lay-in then two possessions later netted a bucket in transition. However, Moray connected from long-range, punctuating a 7-0 push by the Pioneers.
Fairleigh Dickinson hit the break amidst an 8-2 run ? propelled by a deep three courtesy of Kirkland with two seconds left ? yet trailed, 36-31. Freeman tallied nine, while Sacred Heart guard Amanda Pape (Stamford, CT/Trinity Catholic) quietly notched 14 points and five boards.
The Pioneers ripped off a 7-2 charge to open the second stanza and regain a double-digit advantage. FDU cut things to 51-43 with 9:30 left when Walkling fed Altamirano, who went off-glass for a basket.
“The mental mistakes killed us, especially since they're a team that will capitalize,” Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. “In the second-half, we scored 19 points and shot [under] 26 percent ? you're not going to win playing like that. That team isn't 20 points better than us.”
Sykes (12 points) crossed up her defender up top and stepped into a long two in an attempted to halt an 8-2 run by SHU. She then knocked down a triple with 4:51 remaining and the FDU trailed, 62-48.
Pape finished with a game-high 26 points, in addition to 11 rebounds. Forward Jasmine Walker (Amintyville, NY/Copiague) also registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rips. Moray added 12, hitting a quartet of three-poineters.
The Knights host Central Connecticut State University at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17.
