Box Score HACKENSACK, N.J. -
Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) connected on two free throws with three seconds to play to give Fairleigh Dickinson a 73-72 win over Saint Francis U on Monday night.
Natalie Zamora (Albuquerque, N.M./St. Pius X) stole the inbounds pass from Brielle Ward with four seconds to play and then found Livermore underneath the basket where she was fouled by Ward. Livermore was a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line and finished with 26 points and 18 rebounds - season high.
"All 11 players made great contributions tonight. It can be deflating when you go down in the final few seconds but the team stayed with it. Natalie [Zamora] made a great steal and made the right decision and shovel passed it to Erika [Livermore]", said
Peter Cinella postgame.
"Anastasia [Williams] was huge tonight. When we needed energy she hit the glass and got key rebounds for us.
Kiana Brown (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) played a good game against constant double teams all night."
Brown finished with 12 points, seven assists and three rebounds and
Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) had 14 points off the bench.
Fairleigh Dickinson (8-15, 5-5 NEC) led by 17 at the half and by as many as 23 in the third quarter. Saint Francis U (8-13, 6-4 NEC) chipped away in the second half. The Red Flash would eventually cut the lead to 11 points heading into the fourth quarter.
Anastasia Williams (Central Islip, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) moved the Knights lead back to 12, 59-47, with a free throw in the opening seven seconds of the quarter. Williams finished with her first double-double of the season, 11 points and 12 rebounds - five offensive.
The Red Flash cut the lead to five off a jumper from Jessica Kovatch - finished with 16 points (6-of-23) - at the 4:49 mark. The Knights got the lead back to nine after two free throws from Livermore and a layup from
Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) with 4:16 to play.
Saint Francis U then cut the lead to four with 2:25 to play with two free throws from Ward. Two more Ward free throws with 25 seconds made it a one point Knights lead, 71-70.
The Knights then missed two free throws. The Red Flash came down and scored when Katie Reese hit a layup with 12 seconds to play to take a 72-71 lead.
Fairleigh Dickinson then turned the ball over on the ensuing possession after being called for an offensive foul. After a Saint Francis U timeout, Zamora stole the ball and found Livermore to send her to the line for the game-winning free throws.
Fairleigh Dickinson grabbed a season-high 51 rebounds and held a 34-16 advantage on points in the paint. Defensively, the Knights held the Red Flash to 10-of-51 (19.6%) from three-point range and 24-of-79 (30.4%) from the floor overall.
The Knights travel to Staten Island on Saturday for their first look at the Wagner Seahawks. Tip is set for 1 p.m.
