Box Score SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite holding the lead throughout most of the second half, foul trouble ultimately undid the Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team, as it dropped a hard-fought contest at Bryant, 82-77, to extend a winless stretch to six straight. With the victory, the Bulldogs improve to 10-4 (3-0 NEC), while the Knights fall to 3-11 (0-3 NEC) overall.
"I am very proud of the team today. It was our best effort of the season." Head Coach
Peter Cinella said, "
Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) was dominant and both
Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) and
Valerie Oyakhilome (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) were great from the outside. We did everything well today and were superb in all aspects. We have to find a ways to keep opposing teams off the foul line."
FDU jumped out to a 13-4 lead early on heading into the first media timeout but the hosts roared back 13-2 run of their own. The two teams would trade shots for the next seven minutes until a Livermore layup pushed the visitors up, 37-35, to take a lead the team would carry into halftime up 41-40, the Knights' highest first-half total of the season.
FDU began the second half with a 16-7 run with five different players scoring during a five-minute window to push the lead to its highest of the contest – 11.
The Bulldogs, down 61-51, turned to Ivory Bailey and others to retake the lead via a 20-9 run, including three three's and just one missed field goal, while the Knights committed five turnovers.
A Tiersa Winder freethrow regained the lead, 69-68, and the hosts wouldn't look back, finishing the contest on 14-9 run, including eight straight makes from the charity stripe.
Livermore finished with a game-high 27 points (11-of-15 shooting), 11 rebounds, five blocks, and two steals over 32 minutes to tally her seventh double-double of the season.
Cruz added 19 points with her second straight 50 percent shooting performance, while sophomore forward Oyakhilome chipped in a career-high 17 with five long-range hits.
Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) matched a career-high 11 assists in 39 minutes as the Knights enjoy their best shooting performance of the season with 49.2 percent from the field.
Winder finished with 25 points and seven rebounds while playing all 40 minutes and teammate Breanna Rucker added 19 points and 16 rebounds. The Bulldogs outrebounded the visitors 39-26.
FDU now returns to New Jersey for a four-game home stand starting on Monday evening with a clash against St. Francis Brooklyn at 7 p.m. NEC Front Row will carry live video coverage for those who can't make it out to Stratis Arena.
