The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball earned a Northeast Conference win at Bryant University on Monday, Jan. 30.  The Knights defeated Bryant, 54-43 to improve to 10-12 on the season with a 5-5 mark in the NEC.  The Bulldogs drop to 12-9 on the season, 5-5 in conference.

The Knights held Bryant to a 24.2 field goal percentage through 40 minutes, while allowing just 16 points in the second half.

FDU and Bryant traded made free-throws to start the game before the Bulldogs took a 6-2 lead five minutes into the game.

Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) connected on two consecutive layups to tie the game in the sixth minute.  Bryant made four more free throws in the next five minutes to take a five point lead midway through the half. 

The Knights played tough defense, forcing the Bulldogs to the perimeter but a three-point shot by Bryant game them a six-point lead with 6:23 to play.

Fast-break layups by seniors Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) and Esther Wallace (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) cut the lead to two points with five minutes left in the half.

In the final four minutes, the Knights out-scored the Bulldogs, 11-5, including nine-unanswered points by Laury.    With 40 seconds to play, Laury made a tough bank shot and gave the Knights a two-point lead by turning it into a traditional three-point play.

The Knights went into the break with a two-point lead, 29-27.

A layup by Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) extended the Knights' lead to four points in the opening two minutes of the second half. 

By holding the Bulldogs to a 19.4 shooting percentage in the second half, the Knights maintained their lead.

The Knights continued to play fierce defense, and held the Bulldogs scoreless for five minutes.  A three-pointer by Laury increased the Knight advantage to seven points with 6:45 to play. 

With 2:25 remaining the game, Laury stole the ball and fed Pankey in the right corner.  Pankey hit a three-point shot to put the Knights up 11 points.

Bryant resorted to a four-guard offense in the final minutes of the game but could not capitalize on three-point shots.  In the final seconds, Pankey sank two free-throws to maintain the 11-point lead.

The Knights earned their first road conference win outside of New York City since the 2008-09 season. 

Laury led all scorers with 21 points, while Livermore and Pankey added 15 and 12, respectively.  Livermore and Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) led the team on the boards with seven each.

The Knights shot 32.1 percent from the field, while holding Bryant to a season-low 24.2 percent.  FDU went 18-for-21 from the charity stripe, but was out-rebounded, 43-46. 

“This was a tremendous road win against a very well coached Bryant,” said Head Coach Pete Cinella.  “Mariyah's pass to Pankey for the three-point shot was a key moment in this game.  We played with great intensity and it was the best defensive game of the season for us.”

The Knights will host Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac next weekend at Stratis Arena.