Thursday v Saint Francis U-- FDU NOTES | SFU NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | TWITTER
HACKENSACK, N.J. - The Northeast Conference portion of the schedule gets underway for the Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team on Thursday and Saturday this weekend home contests against Saint Francis U on Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. and Robert Morris at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Both games are part of a doubleheader with the men's basketball facing the same two opponents right after the conclusion of the women's game.
TICKET INFO
Children 12 and under can receive free general admission ticket for the games on December 29 and 31. An adult accompanying a child will receive a discounted $5 general admission ticket.
QUICK HITTERS
FDU opens Northeast Conference play with a pair of contests at the Stratis Arena against Saint Francis U and Robert Morris
A win against Saint Francis U in the NEC opener would be the first time since the 2012-13 season against Wagner, 68-59 on Staten Island
A win would also be the fourth in the last five meetings between the Knights and Red Flash. That would be the best stretch for the Knights since winning four in row from 2005-06 thru 2007-08
FDU has made at least five 3-pointers or more in six straight games; the Knights did not do that in more than two straight games last season
SERIES SCORE
Thursday's clash will be the 60th meeting all-time between the Knights and Red Flash. The two schools have met every season since 1986. FDU is 3-3 in the last six games played at the Stratis Arena.
LAST TIME OUT
The Knights had a chance to tie Howard at the buzzer on a three-pointer at the buzzer but the shot from Rainey Cox did not go in and FDU lost 71-68. Four Knights were in double figures; led by Brianna Thomas' and Kiana Brown's 12 points. Courtney Blankenship had 11 and Peniel M'Bikata added a career-high 10. The game was close throughout, with 12 lead changes and eight ties. Both teams did not lead by more than seven at any point.
ABOUT SAINT FRANCIS U
The Red Flash enter with a 3-8 record and have lost four straight games. SFU sports the top scoring offense in the NEC at 80.2 points per game, which is 19 more than the next closest team. SFU also allows the most points in the NEC at 86.2. The Red Flash also lead the conference in assists per game (15.3), blocks (7.0) and steals (10.2). Jessica Kovatch leads the NEC in scoring at 21.5 per game and Ace Harrison is fourth at 14.2. Harrison leads the NEC in rebounding at 10.1 and sits second in field goal percentage at 53.9%.
NEC OPENERS
The Knights will try to win the NEC opener for the second straight season, FDU beat St. Francis Brooklyn in last season's NEC opener. That would be the first time since the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons -- both of those wins came against Bryant.
AT HOME IN THE NEC
Last season the Knights went 6-3 at home, including a win over SFU. That was an improvement from 4-5 the previous year and 1-8 back in 2013-14.
WHERE POINTS COME FROM
FDU has scored 655 points this season. 53% (350) of those have come from inside the arc. 30% (201) have come from three-pointers and the remaining 104 have been scored via the free throw line. Compared to SFU, the Red Flash get 14% from the free throw line, 43% from three and 42% from two-point range.
CLEANING THE GLASS
FDU is third in rebounds per game and third in the NEC in total rebounds at 422 this season. The Knights grab 15.5 OREB per game, which 1st in the NEC and top 40 nationally.
WILL TAKE THAT OFF YOU HANDS
The Knights are first in the NEC in turning over the opposition at 20.36 forced turnovers per game. That mark is 47th in DI.
NEC RANKS
Scoring offense – 4th (59.5)
Scoring defense - 4th (69.5)
FT percentage - 7th (67.1%)
Field goal percentage – 6th (35.3%)
3FG percentage – 7th (28.2%)
FG% defense – 5th (41.5%)
3FG% defense - 4th (32.4%)
Rebounding offense - 3rd (38.36)
Rebounding margin – 2nd (-1.0)
Total Rebounds - 3rd (422)
Assists per game – 6th (11.7)
Blocks – 9th (2.2 per game)
Steals per game – 2nd (8.9)
Turnover Margin – 3rd (-1.45)
Turnovers per game - 10th (21.8)
Turnovers forced per game - 1st (20.36)
Assist/Turnover Ratio – 8th (0.54)
MY BALL!
The 15 steals by the Knights against Howard are the most since have 16 against NJIT back on 11/19/14. The total is also the second-highest by an NEC team this season.
