Box Score HACKENSACK, N.J. –
Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) (28 points) and
Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) (23) combined 51 of Fairleigh Dickinson's 81 points to power the Knights (3-7) to an 81-75 win over Monmouth
Livermore added 14 rebounds to notch her 46th career double-double. Cruz had three rebounds and two steals.
Jackie Jackson ( Gaithersburg, Md./ Gaithersburg) provided 14 points—new career-high—off the bench and
Anastasia Williams (Central Islip, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) had four points and 10 rebounds in just 10 minutes of action.
Peter Cinella said postgame, "The production we got from the center possession was great. Livermore and Williams combined for 32 points and 25 rebounds, that is great [for us]."
"We have some really good moments, quarters and halves we just find a way to stick together and play a full 40 minutes."
Fairleigh Dickinson did not hit a field goal over the last 6:43 of the game but hit 16 free throws over that span to preserve the lead and the win. For the game the Knights shot 79-percent for the game (23-29).
Fairleigh Dickinson outscored Monmouth 14-5 over the last 6:24 of the second quarter to take a 40-27 lead into the locker at the half. Livermore scored 16 in the first half. Cruz had 15 in the opening two quarters.
In the third quarter the Hawks (2-7) used an 11-0 run to cut the Knight lead to 53-47 heading into the fourth quarter. The run covered the final 5:04 of the quarter. A Jackson layup ended the run at 9:10 of the fourth. That sparked a 10-0 spurt by the Knights to lengthen the lead to 16, 63-47 with 6:43 to play.
Over the remaining 6:43 the Hawks and Knights traded three-pointers and free throws. Monmouth—hit seven three-pointers in the fourth—got within five, 80-75, off a three-pointer by Sarah Olson with 17 seconds to play but that was as close as they would get. Cruz hit a free throw to push it back to six.
Olson then missed with nine seconds to play and FDU ran out the clock to end it. Olson finished with 16 points. Dana Carbone led Monmouth with 19.
Fairleigh Dickinson returns to the court on Tuesday, December 29 when they host Brown at 2 p.m. at the Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center.
