The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team was defeated, 74-53, Monday, Feb 23 against Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. In the Knights' (9-18 overall, 8-8 Northeast Conference) first-ever appearance at the TD Banknorth Sports Center, senior center Shenika Chang (New York, NY/Park West) returned to the starting line-up to haul down a game-high 12 rebounds.
For the ninth-consecutive outing, freshman guard Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) recorded a double-digit scoring output (13 points). Meanwhile, Chang chipped-in six points and a pair of blocks.
Junior forward Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) provided 13 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore swing guard Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) accounted for a team-leading 14 points, coupled with four rips and three dimes.
Senior guard Mandy Pennewell erupted for 19 points in the second half, and 22 total, to pace Quinnipiac (16-10 overall, 9-7 NEC). Junior forward Kathleen Neyens added 12 points and nine rebounds. A tandem of senior guards, Brianna Rooney and Erin Kerner, guided the offense, dishing out six and seven assists, respectively. Rooney registered 12 points and five rebounds, with Kerner going for 16 points.
The Bobcats tallied 24 points off turnovers and put together a 10-0 edge in bench scoring. A 39-22 margin over the final 20 minutes propelled Quinnipiac out of a three-way, fifth place tie with the Knights.
"We played a really good first half and were as sharp as we've been in awhile offensively," Head Coach Peter Cinella said. "We need to find way to come out and be more aggressive in second half."
An offensive rip on the night's first possession courtesy of Mayrose, led to a three-ball by Altamirano from the left wing. The Bobcats answered with two field goals when Mayrose countered by splashing down a trey. The ensuing two possessions, Laury knocked down an attempt from downtown, flanked by her baseline jumper, and FDU held a 12-6 advantage with 15:59 on the clock.
Rooney triggered back-to-back three-pointers by Quinnipiac to knot things at 12. Altamirano rattled home a trifecta to break a standstill at 16. Junior guard Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) found Mayrose cutting for a backdoor lay-in at the 10:04 mark, and the Knights held command, 21-16.
Ten-straight points enabled QU to go up by five points. A runner off glass from Laury halted a 5:24 scoring drought, bringing Fairleigh Dickinson's deficit to 26-23, with 4:40 remaining.
The Bobcats opened up a seven-point gap prior to Sykes ? capitalizing on an offensive rip by sophomore forward Kayla Killian (Cliffwood Beach, NJ/St. John Vianney) ? stepping into a spot-up from behind the arc. Mayrose hit from deep on the next trip down the hardwood to create a 35-31 hole by the break.
Mayrose and Laury went for nine points over the initial 20 minutes, with Altamirano chipping-in eight points. Chang led FDU on the boards with five caroms. Rooney scored nine points for Quinnipiac, while Neyens accounted for six points and six rebounds. QU shot over 48% during the period, with the Knights scrapping for 11 second-chance points.
Pennewell connected from long-distance, added a lay-up in transition, and banged a jumper from the left elbow to open the second half. Altamirano ultimately snapped a 9-0 home-standing surge with a three-ball and Fairleigh Dickinson stared down a 44-34 deficit at the 16:48 mark.
FDU produced its second field goal of the second stanza with 11:03 left, as Chang tipped an offensive rebound over the front of the rim. The senior made good twice at the free throw line on the next possession and the Knights trailed, 52-42.
Mayrose drained a long J to slice the score to 60-50; however, Pennewell rebutted by canning a three-pointer with Kerner following suit from deep at the 3:24 juncture. Quinnipiac sealed the win on a 14-3 push over the final 4:48.
Fairleigh Dickinson returns to action at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, Feb.28 in Loretto, PA, taking on Saint Francis University (PA).
