The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team improved to .500 in Northeast Conference play with a routing of Wagner College, 86-49 on Monday, Jan. 9.  The win helped FDU improve to 7-9 on the season with a 2-2 mark in conference play, while the Seahawks drop to 2-13 on the season, 1-3 in the NEC.

Double-digit scoring from five members of the team, including a game-high 27 points by senior Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) led the Knights to victory.

The Knights took control of the game from tip-off, scoring nine undisputed points and forcing three turnovers in the first two minutes of play.  Torrie Childs (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central) led the charge with ten points in the first four minutes, setting a new career high and advancing FDU to a 13 point lead. 

Wagner stopped the Knights from scoring for several minutes midway through the half, enabling the team to gain composure.  The Seahawks increased their scoring total to double-digits with 6:36 left to play in the half but could never cut the deficit to less than 11 points. 

Sophomore Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South), freshman Stephanie Isaacs (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) and Laury each added a three-pointer at the end of the half to increase the Knights' advantage to 24 points.

The Knights went into the break leading, 43-19.  FDU out-rebounded Wagner, 27-20 in the first 20 minutes, while scoring 17 points off 15 Seahawk turnovers.  The Knights allowed no points to be scored on their four turnovers of the half.

The Seahawks started the second half with a seven-point run, cutting the lead to 17 points.  The teams continued to trade baskets through the first seven minutes before a layup from Laury started the Knights on a 16-2 scoring streak.

Two consecutive three pointers from Isaacs increased the Knights' advantage to 34 points with six minutes to play.  Several made free-throws in the final seconds increased the FDU lead to 86-49 as time ran out.

Laury paced the squad with 27 points and six assists, while Isaacs added 12 points on four made three pointers.  Freshman Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) continued her hot streak with 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds.  Pankey added 10 points and four steals for FDU.

The Knights out-shot Wagner, 42.4% to 36.7% and out-rebounded the team, 42-32.  FDU scored 37 points on Wagner's 28 turnovers, while turning the ball over a season-low 11 times. 

“We did a great job taking care of the basketball and finding the open man tonight,” said Head Coach Pete Cinella.  “Torrie Childs (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central) stepped up and got us off to a great start and Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) really set the tone of the game and had some great assists.”

The win marked the Knights' largest margin of victory since a 67-30 win over Wagner in 2007. 

The Knights return to action on Saturday, Jan. 14 with a 2:00 pm tip-off at St. Francis NY.