The Knights jumped out to a 16-7 advantage in the game's first eight minutes of play.  Redshirt junior Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) (Avalon, NJ) scored 15 points in the first half to pace the Knights, who went into the break with the lead, 37-26.  Sykes did most of her damage at the line as she tied a career high with 10 free throw attempts and set a new career high by sinking nine of them.

The Knights shot 46 percent from the field in the first half.  The team also shot a sizzling 89 percent (16-18) from the free throw line.  Sophomore Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) (Orange, NJ) went a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe.  She finished the first half with eight points.  The Knights defense held the Bison to only 28 percent shooting in the first half. 

Fairleigh Dickinson started the second half strong as they opened up a 14 point lead in the half's first four minutes.  Laury opened up the scoring in the second half with a three-pointer to put the Knights up 40-26. 

Junior Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) (Freehold, NJ) would then assert herself into the game.  After a quiet first half with only six points, the captain exploded for 14 second half points to finish with a game high 20.  Mayrose hit a tough lay-up to extend the lead to 16 with 15:17 to go in the game.  She then ripped down one her seven rebounds and hit a running Sykes down the floor who made the layup and forced Howard to call a timeout.  Mayrose still wasn't finished.  Her 15 foot baseline jumper gave the Knights a 53-35 lead with 12:20 to go in the game.  After a brief run by Howard, Sykes would then return to the favor to Mayrose on a pretty pass where Mayrose was cutting backdoor and hit a layup to put Fairleigh Dickinson up 15.  Mayrose would end the game shooting 7-11 from the field and going a perfect 6-6 from the line. 

Howard put on a press and was able to cut the lead down to ten, but that was the closest they would come to the home team.  The Knights went 9-10 from the line down the stretch and finished 32-36 for the game (89 percent).  In the process they set a new team record for free throws made.  Laury and Sykes each finished the game going 11-12 from the charity stripe.  Like Sykes, Laury also set a career high in both free throws attempted and free throws made. 

Laury and Sykes each scored 19 points for the Knights.  Sykes just nearly missed a double-double as she ripped down a team and career high nine rebounds.  She also dished out five assists to lead the Knights.

For the game, the Knights shot 44 percent and held Howard to 29 percent shooting.  Zykia Brown, who was named to the MEAC all-preseason second team, was held in check by the stifling defense put on by the Knights as she shot 5-21 from the floor.

Brown and Kara Smith each had 13 points to lead the Bison.  Tamoria Holmes added 12 points, and Saadia Brown pulled down 11 rebounds.

"I am very proud of the team," said head coach Peter Cinella.  "We did an excellent job at the line.  Howard is going to have a good season.  They have a lot of weapons.  We did a great job at handling their pressure."

The Knights have a quick turnaround and travel to Bethlehem, PA for a game against Lehigh on Wednesday Nov. 18 at 5 p.m.