HACKENSACK, N.J. – Air Force outscored Fairleigh Dickinson 35-22, with the help of a 15-2 run in the third, in the second half to erase a five-point halftime lead for the Knights and win 56-48. 

Fairleigh Dickinson (2-3) was led by Brianna Thomas, who scored 20 points and added three rebounds and two steals. It was the third straight game that Thomas' scored over 20 – first time in her career. Kiana Brown had nine points, four rebounds and three assists for the Knights as well. Air Force (1-4) was led by Dee Bennett with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Kassady Huffman had 15 and Cortney Porter scored 12 off the bench.

"Air Force did a great job rebounding today and took our looks from three-point range," said head coach Peter Cinella. "We have to find ways to get better looks. I did like what we did in the first half and being in the position of being up five at halftime."

Fairleigh Dickinson shot 2-of-9 from three-point range on the day and 16-of-53 overall (30.2-percent).

The Knights built an early 12-5 lead and led 16-12 after the first quarter. Both teams struggled from the field in the second quarter, shooting a combined 7-of-21 and scoring a total of 19 points (10-9 in favor of Fairleigh Dickinson).

Air Force came out of halftime and had five different players score in the 15-2 run that lasted 6:30. Cortney Porter scored 6 points during the run, including the final four points. The Falcons led by seven heading into the fourth quarter, 40-33.

In the fourth quarter, the Knights to as close as three, with 7:27 left in the game at 41-38 on a layup from Amina Markovic. Three straight points from Hoffman pushed the Falcons' lead back six at 44-38 with 5:29 left.

Fairleigh Dickinson would not get closer than five for the remaining of the game, which happened twice. A free throw from Lauren Francillon got the Knights with five at 46-41 with 4:12 left. Then with 2:29 to play a pair of free throws from Thomas got the Knights back within five, 50-45.

Air Force scored its last 13 points from the free throw line to keep Fairleigh Dickinson at bay over the final four minutes.

For the game, the Falcons hit 20-of-28 from the line. Fairleigh Dickinson shot 14-of-16. Air Force was also plus-seven on the glass (38-31).

Up next for the Knights is a trip to West Point for a day with Army West Point on Monday night at 7 p.m.