Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team fell to Sacred Heart, 85-70, at the William H. Pitt Center on Saturday afternoon to drop its record to 1-19 (0-9 NEC). With the victory, the Pioneers improve to 10-10 (7-2 NEC) on the season.

The game was hard-fought and tightly contested throughout, but the difference proved to be several Sacred Heart runs, which kept the game beyond reach for the Knights.

At the 7:30 mark of the first half, with the score 24-19 after junior Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) jumper, Pioneers' freshman Shelby Hickey hit a three-pointer to spark a 12-2 run, where she hit all three of her three-point attempts during the run to finish with 11 first-half points.

After the break, the Pioneers enjoyed two separate 7-2 runs and a 8-2 run to keep the game out of reach despite FDU's efforts and their own stretches of dominance.

"Offensively we were very sharp today, we played hard, did a good job of executing the offense," Head Coach Peter Cinella said. "We kept our turnovers low and really did a good job from the foul line."

The Knights shot 37 percent from the field in both halves, finishing 26-of-69 overall, but were impressive from the free throw line by shooting 94 percent (15-for-16) at the line.. However, FDU made only 3-of-16 from three-point range.

Sophomore Brianna Thomas (Baldwin, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) paced the team with 18 points and eight rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 from the line. Andrades and sophomore Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) each added 17 points.

"Brianna Thomas (Baldwin, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) had a very good rhythm, and Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) did a good job of making shots," Cinella said. "We have to look  to improve our defense and rebounding.

The Pioneers were led by Hannah Kimmel's 19 points and eight rebounds, while Gabriell Washington added 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Sacred Heart won the battle on the glass, 45-32, including 15 offensive rebounds. The Knights had 14 offensive boards of their own and committed only 12 turnovers compared to the home team's 18.

The Pioneers shot 50 percent from the field, including 8-of-19 from long distance and 19-of-26 at the charity stripe.

FDU will return to action on Monday when it travels to Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. to face St. Francis Brooklyn in a conference rematch at the Pope Physical Education Center, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The Knights lost ot the Terriers, 57-55, at Stratis Arena on Jan. 6.