HACKENSACK, N.J. – Brianna Thomas scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds but it was not enough as Fairleigh Dickinson fell to Queens College 70-54 on Wednesday night.

Queens College (5-0) used a plus-18 margin from the free throw line and got 16 steals to earn the win. QC also had four players in double figures, led by Madison Rowland's 21 points. Madison also had eight steals and seven rebounds. 



Fairleigh Dickinson (2-2) did not have another player in double figures besides Thomas. Peniel M'Bikata had eight on 3-of-10 shooting. Courtney Blankenship added six points and eight rebounds off the bench.

The visitors started the game on an 11-0 run and did not allow FDU to score until M'Bikata hit a three-pointer at the 3:57 mark. Fairleigh Dickinson chipped away at the lead over the remaining three-plus minutes. A three from Thomas for FDU within three but Rowland hit a layup at the buzzer to move the lead back to five – 17-12 – at the end of the first 10 minutes.

Queens extended the lead to 11 in the opening two minutes of the second quarter. Fairleigh Dickinson responded with a 9-0 run to tie it at 23. Four different players scored during the spurt for Fairleigh Dickinson. QC got a jumper from MacKenzie Rowland with 1:31 to play in the half to give Queens the two-point lead heading into the intermission.

Fairleigh Dickinson was able to keep it close in the third but could not get the game tied. The Knights cut the lead to a single possession four times; the closest being 40-39 with 3:48 to play. Queens then answered with an 11-3 run to end the period.

In the fourth quarter, Queens only hit two field goals but scored 14 points from the free throw line to put the game out of reach. Fairleigh Dickinson attempted two three throws in the final quarter.

Fairleigh Dickinson returns to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they host the Air Force Academy in the Rothman Center. The game will be aired live on NECFrontRow.com.