The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team fell to Howard, 56-66, Friday, Dec. 30 in Hackensack, NJ.  The Knights drop to 5-9 on the season, while the Bison improve to 8-5 and extend their win streak to seven games.

After trailing at halftime, 30-18, the Knights responded by out-scoring and out-rebounding the Bison in the second half.  Twelve second-half points from freshman Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) helped FDU inch closer, but they could not cut the point deficit in the final minutes.

The Knights and Bison opened the game with tough defense.  Neither team accumulated a lead over six points until the final minutes of the half.  With less than five minutes to play the Bison went on a nine-point run to take a 12-23 lead. They extended the lead to 12 points before the break.

The Bison widened their lead to 19 points in the first three minutes of the second half.  A long-range three-pointer from Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) as the shot clock went off started a swing of momentum that favored the Knights.

On their next possession senior Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) hit another three to cut the deficit to 15 points. The Bison retaliated with a six-point run and took their largest lead of the game, 27-48.

Midway through the half, Livermore and Laury combined for 10 points in two and a half minutes and led the Knights to 12 unanswered points.  With 7:30 to play, the Knights cut the point spread to just six points.

Although they could not cut the Bison lead completely, FDU held Howard to a 10 point lead at the end of regulation.

Laury led the Knights with 14 points, while Livermore and Pankey added 12 and 10, respectively.  Livermore led the team on the boards with seven rebounds.  The three double-digit scorers each shot over 54.5 percent from the field. 

FDU improved their first half shooting and recorded a 53.6 field goal percentage in the second half.  They out-scored Howard, 38-36 and out-rebounded them, 18-15 in the second half. 

The Knights break until the New Year and resume Northeast Conference action on January 7.  FDU will host Mount St. Mary's in a men's/women's double header.  Tip-off for the women's game is scheduled for 4:00 pm.