Box Score WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team dropped a tough road contest at Monmouth, 71-66, that went down to the wire. With the win, the Hawks improve to 2-1 on the young season, while the Knights fall to 1-3 overall.
"It was a great back-and-forth battle. We showed great fight coming back from down double-digits twice." Head Coach Pete Cinella said, "Our press showed some great potential.
Kiana Brown (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) showed good energy off the bench. We just have to find a way to take better care of the basketball and to do a better job of finishing our shots."
The contest started quickly with plenty of offense and the hosts led 23-21 after 10 minutes. Junior guard
Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird), in the starting line-up for the first time this season, scored all 10 of her first half points in the opening seven minutes. After that, both teams struggled to score and the final 10 minutes went 10-9 in favor of Monmouth.
Hawks gurad Sarah Olson opened the second half with two quick three-pointers on either side of a Jasmine Walker lay-up before the Knights had even scored.
Cruz and redshirt junior
Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) combined to lead a 15-4 run that tied the game up at 45 with 13 minutes to play. Hawks guard Mia Hopkins scored a bucket and Jenny Horvatinovic stole an in-bound pass for four quick points and the hosts wouldn't relinquish the lead again.
Both Livermore and Cruz scored 20 points and Brown chipped in 16. Livermore added 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season as well as five blocks.
Senior point guard
Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) provided nine points, three rebounds, five assists, and five steals.
Monmouth outshot the visitors, 37% to 33%, while both teams struggled from long distance; FDU shot just 3-of-23 for 13% and the Hawks were 6-of-25 for 24%.
The Knights are on the road again on Sunday, Nov. 30, when they travel to UMass-Lowell for a 2 p.m. tip.
