The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team fell to first-place Sacred Heart University, 47-62, Saturday, Feb. 4 at Stratis Arena in Hackensack, NJ.  With the loss, the Knights fall to 10-13 on the season with a 5-6 mark in Northeast Conference play.  The Pioneers advance to 17-5, with a near-perfect 10-1 conference record.

Led by 27 points from senior Callan Taylor, the Pioneers took a double-digit lead late in the first half and never looked back.  The Knights were out-shot just 32 percent to 36.5 percent, but the Pioneers took 13 more shots than the Knights, enabling their point total to rise rapidly.

Sacred Heart took a quick six-point lead by shooting 3-for-4 from beyond the arc in the first four minutes of the game.  Freshman Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) and senior Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) combined for six-unanswered points midway through the half to tie the game at 13. 

The teams traded baskets before a seven-point run by SHU helped them reclaim the lead.  At the end of the first period, Sacred Heart led 22-31.

The Knights were out-rebounded, 19-23 in the first half and made just eight of 27 baskets.  The Pioneers went 12-for-37 including five made three-pointers. 

FDU challenged the Pioneers in the first portion of the second half.  With ten minutes to play, the Knights had kept face with the Pioneers, leaving the deficit at nine points with a score of 35-44.

A 14-4 run enabled the Pioneers to take their largest lead of the game, 39-56, with four minutes to play. 

The Knights concluded the game with strong defense and several made layups but could not cut the Pioneer's advantage.  The final score was 47-62, in favor of SHU.

Livermore led the team with 17 points, including seven of eight free throws.  Sophomore Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) led the Knights on the boards with ten.  SHU's Taylor led all-scorers with 27 points and ten rebounds. 

The Knights were out-rebounded, 37-39 and turned the ball over 24 times, amounting to 17 SHU points.    

FDU will host second-place Quinnipiac on Monday, Feb. 6.  Tip-off at Stratis Arena is slated for 7:00 pm.