Box Score

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team opened Northeast Conference play with a 77-63 loss to Bryant on Saturday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center. With the victory, the Bulldogs improve to 6-6 (1-0 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 1-11 (0-1 NEC) overall.
 
Trailing 9-6 nearly four and a half minutes into the game, FDU, who played from behind almost the entire way, saw the home team use an eight-point advantage over the next six minutes to extend their lead to 22-11 at the 9:11 mark of the opening half.
 
The Knights were able to trim the deficit to seven on two occasions, but the Bulldogs would close out the half on a 24-10 run over the final 7:31 to go into the locker room leading 48-27.
 
Bryant connected on 50 percent (15-of-30) of its attempts from the field, 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range and 80 percent (12-of-15) from the charity stripe, while FDU converted 39.3 percent (11-of-28) of its shots from the field and only 1-of-3 from distance.
 
The Knights continued a recent trend of battling hard to win the second half, as FDU outscored the Bulldogs, 36-29, over the final 20 minutes.
 
"We did a good job of battling hard in the second half and almost cut the lead to 10 a couple times," Head Coach Peter Cinella said. "Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) was tremendous, and Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) had a good all-around game."

Sophomore Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) paced the Knights all game long and finished with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Freshman Kiana Brown (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) came off the bench and added 10 points and five rebounds.

Senior Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) battled foul trouble all game but still put up eight points, seven rebounds and a season-high five blocks. Brianna Thomas (Baldwin, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) chipped in eight points and eight rebounds in her return from an injury layoff, and junior Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) tied her career high in steals with six to go along with eight points.
 
As a team, FDU shot 35.4 percent (23-of-65) from the field, but only 2-of-9 from distance and 60 percent (15-of-25) from the free throw line. The Knights were barely edged in the battle of the boards at 48-44 and equaled Bryant's 22 offensive rebounds. Both teams committed 19 turnovers.
 
All-NEC performer Naana Ankoma-Mensah finished with a game-high 24 points and added an impressive 14 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive glass. Meredith Soper added 19 points (all in the first half) and eight rebounds, while Courtney Schissler chipped in 11 points.
 
FDU will have a quick turnaround when it returns to Stratis Arena to host St. Francis Brooklyn in an NEC contest on Monday, Jan. 6, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.