With just over 32 seconds remaining in double overtime, Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) (Avalon, NJ) crossed up a Wagner College defender, penetrated left, and connected on an off-balance scoop shot. Then on the defensive end, the junior guard swiped a pass, and was forced to the free throw line ? knocking down both to seal a 68-66 Northeast Conference victory for the Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team, Monday, Jan. 5.
Sykes notched 18 points (8-for-8 from the free throw line), grabbed six boards, and dropped six dimes. Her effort lifted the Knights (4-7 overall) to a 3-1 record in conference action and a 3-2 clip at Stratis Arena in the Rothman Center. Sykes provided seven of her points in extra time, flanked by 11 in the second half.
The night featured 12 lead changes, as Wagner slipped to 4-9 overall and 0-3 in the NEC.
In a contest that proved Fairleigh Dickinson's first double OT victory since an 83-80 home decision during the 1995-96 campaign, junior forward Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) (Bayonne, NJ) hauled down a career-best 21 rebounds. The team captain's effort resulted in her third double-double of the year, flanked by a 13-point performance. Altamirano stands as the first student-athlete to register 20 or more rebounds in 29 years; since All-American Janice Reaves ('83) set the program record of 27 boards versus Malloy College on Feb. 20, 1980.
Freshman guard Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) (Orange, NJ) fell one point shy of her career-high scoring output, recording 20 points in a team single-game high 48 minutes. She also hit a career-best three treys.
“Tonight was a tremendously gutsy effort by both teams ? Wagner was not about to give in at any moment,” Head Coach Peter Cinella said. “Christy did a great job on the boards. Mariyah and Jordan hit a lot of big shots.”
Sophomore guard Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) (Freehold, NJ) finished with 11 points, eight rips, and three assists. Senior center Shenika Chang (New York, NY/Park West) (New York, NY) snatched a season-high nine rebounds ? five during the two overtime periods.
Freshman guard Kanifa Hicks (Paterson, NJ) led Wagner with a career-high 16 points in her return home to the Garden State, while sophomore forward Ashley Olsen (Staten Island, NY) posted her first career double-double: 13 points and 10 boards.
Cinella's team started hot, as Laury swished a three-pointer from dead on to open the scoring at the 18:51 mark. Less than a minute later, Mayrose accepted a feed from Sykes and struck from downtown. Mayrose then dished to Laury behind the arc, and FDU popped its third effort from long range.
Mayrose attacked the offensive glass and converted a put-back, giving the Knights a 13-4 command with 14:27 left. However, Wagner staged a 9-1 push to create a 14-13 contest, capped by a pair of free throws by freshman forward Brittney Thorpe (Newport News, VA).
Fairleigh Dickinson's 4:01 field goal drought was nullified following a transitional deuce courtesy of Mayrose ? and the Knights stayed up, 16-13.
The Seahawks collected their first lead of the night, 17-16, at the 8:45 juncture, already capitalizing for the ninth time from the charity stripe. Wagner's next trip down the floor, Sykes hit the deck and pushed a pass ahead to Laury. The rookie took it deep then flipped a pass mid-air to Mayrose for an uncontested lay-up.
With the visitors taking a 23-18 command via a 6-0 surge, Sykes drove the lane and found Laury on the baseline for a runner. However, the Seahawks responded with back-to-back buckets and once again hit the free throw line, en route to stringing together another 6-0 run.
FDU trailed at halftime, 30-23, after turning the ball over 13 times. Mayrose notched 11 points and Laury eight. Altamirano's seven rebounds paced the squad.
Conversely, Hicks went for 10 points by the break, while freshman center Kelly Clark (Neptune, NJ) added seven points and six boards. The Seahawks tallied 12 points at the line, and held a 13-0 advantage in bench scoring.
Laury poured in eight-straight to kick-start the second half, as the Knights regained the lead, 31-30. The freshman drained a trey from the left wing, backed by a jumper from the elbow, and a trio of foul shots. Wagner's first field goal came 5:27 into the stanza to go up, 32-31.
Altamirano rattled home an underhanded reverse attempt ? created by Sykes' dribble drive following an offensive rip ? and Fairleigh Dickinson was on top, 35-33, with 13 minutes remaining. But on the Seahawks next trip down the floor, sophomore guard Stephanie McBride (Mechanicsville, NY) spotted up for a three.
At the 8:20 mark, Laury nailed a J, with Sykes following suit with a pull-up on the next passion ? good for a 41-38 FDU advantage. Sykes splashed home a trifecta with 6:10 left, extending things to 46-40.
Wagner chipped away at an eight-point deficit, to bring the count to 49-48 with 3:22 left, as Hicks knocked down two free throws. Altamirano rebutted with a 15-footer, before Seahawks' junior guard Andrea Reed (Pocomoke City, MD) banged a triple to knot things at 51 moments later ? the score at the conclusion of regulation.
Freshman forward Erica McKeithan (Newport News, VA/Heritage) (Newport News, VA) opened the scoring on the first possession of overtime. The Knights extended it to a three-point margin, yet had to survive three-consecutive field goal attempts by the visitors. But Reed hit a tandem of shots at the line to force double overtime at 57-57.
Sykes opened things up in the second OT session by striking for a three-pointer down in the left corner, and Fairleigh Dickinson went ahead 62-58 with 3:28 remaining. Hicks missed two chances from the right block, but banked in a turnaround with 1:32 left, leveling the count at 62. Altamirano answered with two free throws, with Reed doing the same.
The night was ultimately put away with Sykes aforementioned, late-game heroics.
Despite shooting 3-of-12, Reed collected 14 points (seven free throws), six rebounds, and four assists. Clark ended a point shy of her first career double-double, amassing nine points and 11 boards.
Wagner held a 23-6 stronghold in bench scoring. Meanwhile, FDU registered a positive rebounding margin for a second-straight occasion.
The Knights travel to West Point, NY at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7 to take on Army.
