With FDU trailing 54-53 in overtime, sophomore Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) knocked down a baseline 15-foot jumper to give the Knights a 54-53 lead with 2:01 remaining. She then knocked down one of two free throws to extend the lead to 55-53 with 1:20 to go.

After senior Torrie Childs (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central) blocked a CCSU shot, sophomore Stephanie Isaac's grabbed the rebound to give FDU the possession. The Knights missed a shot with 35 seconds left, and the Blue Devils called timeout.

CCSU missed a jumper with 17 seconds remaining, and the Knights were able to run 11 seconds off the clock before sophomore Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) was fouled with six seconds to go, but she missed the front end of a one and one to give the Blue Devils one last chance. Tough full-court defense forced a desperation three by CCSU, which fell short, to give FDU the victory.

Both sides struggled from the floor. Despite shooting only 24.7 percent (18-of-73) from the field, the Knights held the Blue Devils to only 36.4 percent (20-of-55), including 3-of-15 from three-point range.

FDU won the game on the glass and at the free throw line, outrebounding CCSU, 53-38, including 24-8 on offensive rebounds, which resulted in the Knights outscoring the Blue Devils in second-chance points, 24-2. FDU converted 15-of-18 free throws, while CCSU made only 10-of-14. The Knights also forced 20 turnovers and only gave the ball up only 15 times.

FDU started the contest, which featured 10 ties and 13 lead changes, with a 7-2 lead before the Blue Devils rattled off seven straight points to take a 9-7 lead with 13:26 left before halftime.

With the game tied at 11, a three-pointer by Isaacs started an 8-0 spurt for the Knights, capped by a jumper from sophomore Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird), to give FDU a 19-11 lead with 6:23 to go in the opening half.

Over a 3:46 span, CCSU outscored the Knights, 13-2, to take a 24-21 lead with 35 second until halftime. Two free throws by Andrades right before the end of the half put FDU down one, 24-23, at the break.

Despite allowing the Blue Devils to shoot 42.1 percent (8-of-19) over the first 20 minutes, the Knights, who shot only 25.9 percent (7-of-27) in the first half, were in the game because of their rebounding (18-15), particularly on the offensive glass (6-1), which led to five second-chance points.

Over the first 10:34 of the second half, the game was tied on four different occasions. With the score tied at 34, FDU scored six straight points and kept a six point lead at 42-36 with 6:19 remaining in regulation.

However, CCSU answered with a 9-2 run to take a 45-44 lead with 2:37 left in the second half. A layup by Livermore gave the Knights the lead back before one Blue Devils' free throw, with 54 seconds to go, tied the game at 46.

After FDU came up empty twice, CCSU gained possession with 25 seconds remaining and had a chance for the game-winning shot. A jump shot with two seconds left missed, which sent the contest into overtime, where the Knights outscored the Blue Devils, 9-7.

Livermore led FDU with her 17th double-double of the season, with game-highs of 19 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) and Isaacs just missed double-doubles as Crawford added nine points and a season-high 10 rebounds, while Isaacs chipped in eight points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds. The 53 rebounds by the Knights set a new season high, while the 24 offensive boards tied their season best.

Junior Danielle Pankey, who did not play against CCSU, leads FDU in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game. Livermore is averaging 14.2 points and a team-high 11.7 rebounds per game, while shooting a team-best 45.6 percent (104-of-228) from the field. She has recorded 17 double-doubles in 20 games this season, which is tied for third in the country. Her rebounding average is the eighth best in the nation.

The Bulldogs (7-13, 4-6 NEC), who were picked to finish ninth in the 12-team Northeast Conference, currently sit in 10th place after winning at Monmouth, 58-55, on Saturday.

Bryant started the season 0-4 before winning four straight to even its record. The Bulldogs then lost eight in a row before winning three of their last four contests. In nonconference action, Bryant went 4-7 and has two common oppents with the Knights: Columbia and Army. The Bulldogs defeated Lions at home, 68-54, while the Knights lost at Columbia, 54-47. Both sides lost to the Black Knights, with Bryant losing at West Point, 67-51, and FDU losing in its home opener, 57-52.

The Bulldogs started out 0-5 in conference play with losses at Saint Francis University (81-76), Robert Morris (71-69) and Central Connecticut State (59-50) and at home to Quinnipiac (85-62) and Mount St. Mary's (86-84 OT). The losing streak ended with home wins over Wagner (65-47) and LIU Brooklyn (64-49) before losing at Sacred Heart (62-44) and defeating Monmouth.

Bryant is led by junior forward Naana Ankoma-Mensa, who is averaging a double-double with team highs of 14.6 points and 12.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.1 percent (120-of-266) from the field. She also leads the team with 35 steals and 18 blocks. Junior guard Courtney Schissler adds 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

The Knights and the Bulldogs will be meeting for the eighth time in the all-time series, which dates back to the 2008-09 season. FDU holds a 4-3 advantage and is 3-0 at Stratis Arena. In the only meeting last season, the Knights won at Bryant, 54-43, on January 30, 2012.

FDU held the Bulldogs to a 24.2 percent shooting from the field and allowed only 16 points in the second half after leading at halftime, 29-27. Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) led all scorers with 21 points, while Livermore and Pankey added 15 and 12 points, respectively. Livermore and Crawford led the team on the boards with seven each. The Knights shot 32.1 percent from the field, but converted 18-of-21 free throws. Bryant won the rebounding battle, 46-43.

Following the contest with Bryant, FDU will host Monmouth at Stratis Arena on Saturday, Feb. 9. The 2013 Winter Homecoming contest is scheduled for 2 p.m.