Box Score NEW YORK – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team dropped its fifth straight on the road, 72-55, at Columbia in the team's final nonconference contest of the season. With the loss, the Knights fall to 3-10 (0-2 NEC), while the Lions improve to 6-8 (0-0 Ivy) overall.
"We played much better in the second half and we had better defensive possessions as the game went on." Head Coach Pete Cinella said.
Junior guard
Tiffany Grant (Odenton, Md./Arundel) scored the first basket of the contest for FDU, a jumper at the 18:24 mark, but it was the last time the Knights would hold a lead on Wednesday night.
Columbia jumped out on a 24-6 run over the next 11 minutes, highlighted by freshman Alexa Giuliano's 14 points on four three's and a jumper. The hosts withstood a small FDU rally and ended the half with another flourish of long-range efforts to head into the break with a 41-21 lead.
The Lions shot 60.7 percent from the floor in the first stanza including 58.3 percent from deep.
For the eighth time this campaign, the Knights outscored their opponents in the second half. This time, the visitors ended the game with a 34-31 effort while outshooting Columbia, 38.7% to 36.0%.
Sophomore guard
Kiana Brown (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) finished with a team-high 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting with two rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes.
Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) added 12 points.
FDU was efficient on the offensive glass, holding a 19-10 advantage in that category, but was outrebounded overall, 41-35. Despite the shooting struggles, the team committed just 10 turnovers on the night, while the Lions coughed it up 17 times.
Camille Zimmerman led the way with 20 points, nine rebounds, and a pair of assists, blocks, and steals in 30 minutes. Giuliano finished with 19 points with five threes, while Tori Oliver corralled a career-high 14 boards.
The Knights resume Northeast Conference action on Saturday afternoon with a trip up to Bryant, the final contest in a seven-game road swing that has lasted a full month. Tipoff from Smithfield is slated for 1 p.m. and is the first game of a doubleheader with the FDU men's team. NEC Front Row will have live video coverage.
