The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team fell in a heart-breaking loss to in-state opponent, Rider University, 68-69, Thursday, Dec. 22 at Alumni Gym in Lawrenceville, NJ.  The Knights fall to 4-8 on the season, while the Broncs extend their win streak to five and improve to 7-3.

The Knights were led by 23 points from senior Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) and shot a season-high 43.3 percent from the floor.  The Broncs shot just 34.5 percent, but converted 26 of 33 free-throws to take the win.

Laury started the game with 12 points in the first ten minutes, paving the way for an eight point FDU lead midway through the half. 

Rider's Ali Heller responded for the Broncs and knocked in eight unanswered points to tie the game at 19 with seven minutes left in the first half.  Rider extended their run to 14 points to take a six-point lead, three minutes before the break. 

In the final two minutes of the half the lead changed seven times.  Two made free-throws by MyNeshia McKenzie put the Broncs up 28-30 at the break.

The Broncs went 13-for-15 from the charity stripe in the first 20 minutes but shot just 27.6 percent from the field.  The Knights went 11-for-28 from the field, including Laury's 7-for-12. 

Torrie Childs (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central) tied the game at 30 with a jumper in the paint just 30 seconds into the second half.  Four points by Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) gave FDU the lead.  The Knights were able to increase the lead to seven points on five quick points from Pankey and Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) but could not stop the Broncs' attack. 

Rider scored six points in the span of one minute to tie the game for the tenth time midway through the half.  They reclaimed the lead on two made free-throws by Heller. 

Seven points from Laury late in the second half enabled the Knights to take the lead once more, but again they were met with retaliation from RU.

After trading baskets the Knights led, 66-62 with 2:50 left to play.  A layup by Sironda Chambers cut the deficit to two points before a three-pointer by Alyssa Parsons gave the home team a one-point lead with 1:36 to go.  The three was Parsons only made shot from long range.

With 42 seconds on the clock Pankey hit a jump shot in the paint to give FDU a one point lead but the Knights sent Rider to the charity stripe again in the final seconds.  Heller made two free-throws with 28 seconds to play to give the Broncs the ultimate advantage.

The Knights developed three attempts to make a game winning shot in the final 12 seconds, but came up short each time. 

“You have to give Rider a lot of credit,” said Head Coach Pete Cinella.  “However, I am very proud of our team.”

“I think this was the best overall game we've played this season,” Cinella added.  “We did a great job of rebounding and played a very good all around game; they just made that last shot.”

The Knights were led by Laury who converted ten of 20 shots for 23 points.  Pankey added 15, while also shooting 50 percent from the floor.  Pankey recorded a career-high six assists with six rebounds.  Livermore and Stephanie Isaacs (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) rounded out the double-digit scorers, each with 11. 

Senior Esther Wallace (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) led the team on the boards with eight. Livermore and Mariah Nunes (Ajax, Ontario/Bill Crothers ) added six to the Knights' total 42 rebounds.  They out-rebounded the Broncs, 42-39.

The Knights break for the holiday before hosting Columbia at the Rothman Center on Wednesday, Dec. 28.  Tip-off is slated for 7:00 pm.