The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team defeated Lafayette College, 69-39, in a non-conference tilt at Stratis Arena in the Rothman Center in Hackensack, NJ on Wednesday night. The Knights improve to 3-5 on the season, while the Leopards fall to 2-8 overall.
Five Knights scored in double figures as FDU had its best overall game of the season. Sophomore Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) led the team with 17 points. Junior Jenna Strich and freshman Alannah Driscoll-Sbar (Northampton, MA/Northampton) added 11 points each while juniors Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) and Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) each chipped in10 points. Driscoll-Sbar and sophomore Jasmyra Saunders (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Catholic) led the squad on the boards, both grabbing six rebounds, while Sykes dished out six assists and tied a career-high with seven steals to lead the team in both categories.
After the game was tied at 4 in the first two minutes, the Knights exploded and scored 15 unanswered points to jump out to a 19-4 lead with a little less than 10 minutes to go in the half. The Knights entered intermission with a 19 point lead at 34-15, their largest lead in the first twenty minutes. Mayrose, Saunders, Driscoll-Sbar, and Laury each had baskets during the run.
Driscoll-Sbar led the Knights with nine first-half points, connecting on all four field goal attempts. Her insertion into the starting lineup provided a spark for the team. Mayrose and Laury each added seven points. Driscoll-Sbar also had five rebounds to pace FDU. The Knights also out-rebounded the Leopards, 21-12, and had eight steals. Sykes was responsible for three of the thefts.
The Knights opened the second half where they ended the first. FDU was able to stretch the lead out to a season-high 34 points when they went up 61-27 on a Sykes steal and lay-up with 6:39 to go in the game. The Knights cruised the rest of the way to earn their third victory of the season.
Overall, this was one of the better defensive performances of the season. The 39 points allowed was a season-best and was the fewest amount of points given up by an FDU team since last season when the Knights defeated Long Island on Senior Day. The 15 steals and 24 forced turnovers were also both season-bests.
The Knights also controlled the boards as they won the rebounding battle for only the second time this season, 39-25. The total also included a season-high 18 offensive rebounds.
FDU also held Lafayette to only 29 percent (13-45) shooting while the Knights shot 43 percent (23-53), one of their better shooting performances on the season.
"The team really moved the ball well," said Head Coach Pete Cinella. "We did a great job of driving the paint. Defensively, we did a great job fighting over players and had a much better game rebounding."
LaKeisha Wright led the Leopards with 11 points. Sarah McGorry chipped in nine points.
The Knights are back in action at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec 12, at home against Saint Peter's College in Hackensack, NJ.
