The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team fell to Sacred Heart University, 59-65, in its final game of the regular season. With the loss the Knights fall to 14-15 (7-11), while the Pioneers advance to 18-11 (12-6) and secure a home game in the first round of the NEC tournament.
After trailing 17 points midway through the half, the Knights went on a 13-2 run through the final minute of the game. Backed by 25 points from junior Jasmyra Saunders (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Catholic), the Knights scored 59 points to come within three points of the Pioneers but could not take over the lead.
Saunders started the first half with two three points in 30 seconds, giving the Knights an early 6-5 lead. The teams traded baskets on several occasions until the 16th minute in the first half.
Strong defense and baskets from red-shirt freshman Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) and senior Kayla Killian (Cliffwood Beach, NJ/St. John Vianney) gave the Knights a five point lead.
FDU extended the lead to seven points, 28-21 on two free-throws from senior Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) at 4:11 but would be held scoreless through the end of the half.
The Pioneers went on a 15-point run in the final minutes to take the lead, 28-35 at the break.
The first half saw three ties and six lead changes as the Pioneers and Knights each battled for the advantage. The Pioneers out-rebounded the Knights, 13-20, and out-shot them, 48.3 percent (14-for-29) to 37.0 percent (10-for-27).
Sacred Heart brought the momentum into the second half, extending their lead to 33-44 just five minutes into the second half. In the first nine minutes of the half the Knights were out-scored 8-15.
The Pioneers maintained a 12 point lead through the majority of the second half before a layup from junior Mariyah Laury cut the deficit to 10 and sparked the Knights' scoring.
The Knights out-scored the Pioneers 13-2 in the final minutes of the game. With one minute remaining, Saunders drove hard to the basket for a clutch layup, cutting the Pioneers lead to three points.
SHU went three-for-three from the charity stripe in the final 26 seconds of the game to take an ultimate 59-65 lead.
The Knights went 20-for-54 from the floor for a 37.0 field goal percentage on the game. The Pioneers shot 40.0 percent from the field (24-for-60) and grabbed 40 rebounds. FDU cut the rebounding margin to just one, grabbing a total of 39.
Saunders led the Knights with a season-high 25 points on 10 made field goals including career-high four three-pointers. Saunders recorded a season-high eight rebounds.
Sykes led the Knights on the glass, tying a career-high 10 rebounds.
The Pioneers were led by Callan Taylor, who recorded her 12th double-double of the season with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Ericka Norman had 15 points and seven assists for SHU.
This concludes the regular season for FDU women's basketball. As the eighth seed in the Northeast Conference Tournament, they will face top-ranked St. Francis PA on Saturday, March 5. The Knights defeated the Red Flash, 62-58, in their last meeting on February 19.
