Junior guard Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) (Freehold, NJ) scored the Knights first points of the season on a three-point play at the 19:24 mark to put FDU up 3-2 early.  A quick steal off the press by freshman Alannah Driscoll-Sbar (Northampton, MA/Northampton) (Florence, MA) led to a bucket by sophomore Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) (Orange, NJ) to put the Knights up early, 5-2. 

The first half witnessed seven ties and six lead changes.  A Laury three-pointer with 8:11 to go in the first half put the Knights up 20-19.  The Knights would then go on a 12-5 run capped by a three-pointer by Driscoll-Sbar with 3:35 left to put the Knights up 32-31.  Laury also hit a big three-pointer during the run.  Syracuse would then score the final seven points of the half to go up 38-32 at intermission.  The Knights went 6-16 from three-point range in the first half, including two apiece by Mayrose and Laury.

Mayrose hit FDU's first bucket to start the second half to cut the Syraucse lead to 38-34, but that was the closest the Knights would get to the Orange the rest of the game. 

Mayrose paced the Knights with 19 points.  Laury just missed a double-double with 13 points and a career high nine rebounds.  Junior Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) (Avalon, NJ) added a team high seven assists.

Nicole Michael led the Orange with 11 points.  Erica Morrow and Tyler Ash eached chipped in 10 points for Syracuse, who shot 40 percent from the floor compared to 27 percent by the Knights.  Syracuse also had an advantage in rebounding, 53-38.

"I am very proud of the team.  We did a great job.  We had the lead at 32-31, and they hit a couple of big shots to end the first half," said head coach Peter Cinella.  "They outrebounded us pretty well in the second half.  I am very proud of the team for battling.  We need to get ready for Monday night."

The Knights return to Hackensack for their home opener versus Howard University at 7:00 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16.