Box Score HACKENSACK, N.J. - The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team tried to erase a 12-point Central Connecticut fourth quarter lead but came up short in the final minute to suffer a 78-75 loss.
The Knights (4-13, 1-3 NEC) we down 73-61 with 4:34 to play and scored 11 of the last 15 points.
Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) started the run with a three-pointer to make it a nine-point game.
Jackie Jackson ( Gaithersburg, Md./ Gaithersburg) then hit a jumper with 3:20 to play.
Back-to-back baskets from
Brianna Thomas (Baldwin, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) got the Knights to within three at 73-70 with 2:07 to play. After a defensive stop,
Madelynn Comly (Littlestown, Pa./Delone Catholic) hit 1-of-2 free throws to get the Knights to within two, 73-71, with 1:13 to play. Thomas then answered a TeJahne Malone-25 points and 12 rebounds-to bring Fairleigh Dickinson back within a possession.
Cruz was then fouled on a layup. The senior missed both free throws. Central Connecticut (4-11, 1-3 NEC) hit a free throw and it was 76-73 with 17 seconds to play. Comly grabbed an offensive rebound on the ensuing possession and was fouled. The freshman hit both free throws to make it 76-75.
The Blue Devils were put on the line again and hit,both this time, to take a 78-75 lead with nine seconds to play.
Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) then missed a three from the corner in front of the Knight bench with three seconds to play and Central Connecticut controlled the rebound.
The Knights had five players in double figures for the first time this season; Cruz (19), Livermore (19 and 14 rebounds), Thomas (13), Jackson (11) and Comly (11).
Kiana Brown (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) had five assists to one turnover. The Knights also hit a season-high 24 free throws and outrebounded the Blue Devils 39-34.
Head coach
Peter Cinella told FDUKnights.com afterwards, "I am very proud of the team for being down 10 and having a chance to tie it up. We played so well in the first, second and fourth quarters.
"We just had that one bad quarter that continues to be our issue. We have to find a way to not lose a quarter so badly."
Fairleigh Dickinson led after the first quarter and the half. Central Connecticut took used a 26-point third quarter to eventually build a 10-point lead. The Blue Devils took the lead for good at the 6:50 mark of the third.
Up next for Fairleigh Dickinson is a weekend road trip to Pennsylvania. The Knights face Robert Morris on Saturday and then travel to Saint Francis U on Monday, January 18.
