Box Score
HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team was defeated by LIU Brooklyn, 86-64, in Northeast Conference action on Monday afternoon at Stratis Arena. With the victory, the Blackbirds improve to 4-13 (2-4 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 1-16 (0-6 NEC) overall.
FDU held the lead on four different occasions over the first 20 minutes and was up on LIU, 18-15, after a three-point play from sophomore
Brianna Thomas (Baldwin, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan). But after that it was all LIU.
The Blackbirds netted seven unanswered points to take the lead for good. The Knights cut the deficit to 24-22, but LIU would score the next 23 points (over 7:10) to take a commanding 47-22 lead, which would be 47-24 at halftime.
The Blackbirds forced FDU into 14 turnovers in the first half and outscored the Knights, 23-4, on points off turnovers. FDU was also outscored at the free throw line, 16-3, over the first 20 minutes.
The Knights did not quit in the second half and trimmed the deficit to 12 on a pair of free throws from junior
Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) at the 7:42 mark, but it was the closest FDU would come. The Knights won the second half, 40-39.
The Knights shot 54.5 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes to finish the contest at 43.1 percent (28-of-65). LIU connected at a 51.9 percent (27-of-52) clip for the game and knocked down 29-of-37 free throws.
Senior
Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) and sophomore
Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) both scored 13 points. Sophomore
Anastasia Williams (Central Islip, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) nearly constructed a double-double with 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
The Blackbirds' Cleandra Roberts led all scorers with 28 points, while Letava Whippy and Aleisha Myers added 16 and 15 points, respectively.
FDU will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 25 when it hosts Saint Francis University in a NEC contest scheduled for 2 p.m. at Stratis Arena.
