The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team fell, 80-51, in its home opener against Yale.  With the win the Bulldogs improve to 2-0, while the Knights fall to 0-2. 

The Knights struggled to handle the ball and allowed 30 turnovers, which produced 43 points on turnovers for Yale. 

FDU started well, gaining a four-point lead in the first minute of play on baskets from freshman Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) and senior Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange).  The Bulldogs tied the game at four in the third minute.

Veterans, Laury, Esther Wallace (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) and Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) added six points in the fourth minute to bring the Knights back to a six-point lead.  The Bulldogs caught fire and score seven points in the fifth minute to take the lead, 12-13. 

Five different Yale players produced a 15-4 run for the Bulldogs midway through the half.  The run increased their lead to nine points, 14-23. 

The Knights continued to score but were met with retaliation each time.  The Bulldogs extended their lead to ten points and went into the break with a 24-34 advantage. 

Livermore and Laury each added four points to begin the second half and brought the Knights within four points.  Laury continued to lead FDU offensively but could not keep up with the Bulldogs' scoring opportunities. 

With 13 minutes remaining the Bulldogs improved their lead to 11 points and they never looked back.  They continued to add to the point deficit and finished the game with a 51-80 advantage.

Laury led the Knights with a season-high 20 points.  Livermore added 12 points for the Knights with six rebounds and three blocks.  Wallace was a force on the boards, recording eight of the team's rebounds, while freshman Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) dished out five assists. 

The Knights were out-rebounded 36-34 and shot 41.5% from the floor.  The Bulldogs had three double-digit scorers, Michelle Cashen with 12 and Hayden Latham and Megan Vasques with 11 each. 

FDU hits the road for an in-state matchup with NJIT on Wednesday, Nov. 16 in Newark, NJ.