The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team dropped a key Northeast Conference road game Saturday afternoon at Quinnipiac, 75-56, at the TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden, CT. A victory by the Knights would have clinched a playoff spot in the conference tournament. However, FDU is still alive for the final playoff spot with either a loss by Mount St. Mary's or a win in its next game. With the victory, the Bobcats improve to 14-14 (11-6 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 14-14 (7-10 NEC) overall.
Junior Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) led the Knights with 15 points and a game-high four steals. Freshman Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) added 12 points for FDU.
The difference in the game was rebounding as the Bobcats crushed the Knights on the glass, 54-29, including 16 on the offensive glass that led to 14 second chance points. Also, the Knights only shot 27.8 percent (15-of-54) from the floor and only 2-of-13 from three-point range, while the Bobcats shot 40 percent (24-of-60). FDU also forced 22 Bobcat turnovers but only scored 13 points off the miscues.
In the first half, the Knights took an early 7-6 lead on freshman Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic)'s layup. The Bobcats then answered with a 15-6 run to go up 22-13 with 9:29 remaining in the first half.
FDU was able to fight back as senior Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit)' scoop-shot layup cut the lead to 30-28 with 2:04 to go before halftime.
The Knights were able to head into the break down only three, 33-30.
The second half was a different story. After a pair of Laury free throws cut the lead to one to open the second half, but Quinnipiac went on a 17-5 spurt to take a 50-35 lead with 14:11 to go in the contest.
FDU once again fought back as junior Jenna Kowal (Brick, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) found Laury in transition for a trey ball to cut the lead to nine at 51-42.
After a Bobcats' bucket, Pankey scored on a layup to reduce the deficit to 53-44 with 10:17 to go in the game, but that was the closest the Knights would come as Quinnipiac pulled away for a 75-56 victory.
"We were not able to convert many open shots and take advantage of the many fast break opportunities we had," said Head Coach Pete Cinella. "Rebounding was the biggest difference of the game. It is hard to win when you are dominated on the glass."
The Knights will conclude their regular season on Monday night when they travel to Fairfield, CT to take on Sacred Heart. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
