Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team won its second game in a row with a 76-59 victory on the road at Saint Peter's, the first of seven straight road contests. With the win, the Knights improve to 3-5 on the season, while the Peacocks fall to 0-7.
"We played with great energy and teamwork in the second half." Head Coach Pete Cinella said, "
Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) was a driving force getting to the basket,
Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) hit a number of big shots, and
Kiana Brown (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) had a tremendous all-around floor game with a 4x5 line. Saint Peter's is always a tough game to win on their home court. We displayed great poise to win on the road."
FDU struggled early on in the first half and either trailed or was tied for the game's opening 17 minutes. Over the final three minutes of the first period, the visitors went on an 11-0 run to take a 37-32 lead into the break, one they would never relinquish.
Despite maintaining their lead, the Knights got into early foul trouble in the second stanza, with eight fouls over the half's first six minutes. Despite this, FDU combined defense and offense and outscored the hosts, 37-29, over the final 20 minutes.
Cruz had a game-high 24 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including two threes, in 35 minutes. Redshirt junior center
Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) tallied her fourth double-double of the campaign with 17 points and 13 rebounds plus three blocks and a steal in 33 minutes.
Senior point guard tied a career-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go along with four rebounds, six assists, one steal and a career-high two blocks over a game-high 39 minutes.
Sophomore guard
Kiana Brown (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) hit two career-highs with 11 rebounds and six steals, while adding seven points and tying a career-high six assists over 34 minutes of action.
The Knights shot 40.8% from the field on a season-high 71 shots.
Alyssa Velles paced the hosts with 11 points with Sajanna Bethea adding 10 points and eight rebounds.
FDU will now enjoy an 11-day break before heading up to Providence, R.I. for a clash against Brown on Sunday, Dec. 21. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.
