HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball was down by one heading into the final two-plus minutes until Bryant's defense held the Knights scoreless over the final 2:39 to win 56-48 on Monday night at the Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center
Fairleigh Dickinson (3-12, 1-3 NEC) got to within one at 49-48 with 2:39 left on a three-pointer from
Madelynn Comly. A minute later, Bryant (8-7, 3-1 NEC) got a three-pointer from Haley Connors to make it a four-point game once again.
The Bulldogs then hit four free throws in the final 34 seconds to put the game away.
After a defensive stop after cutting the game to one point, the Knights had a pair of chances to take the lead but a three by Comly from the corner was no good and then
Peniel M'Bikata grabbed the offensive rebound and missed the put back with 1:54 left.
Three Knights had nine points to lead the way offensively;
Kiana Brown,
Jenna Clark and
Brianna Thomas. Clark's all came on three-pointers in the first half as she was the lone Knight to hit more than one three-pointer; the nine points were also a career-high. Brown added a season-high six assists.
Bryant was led by a pair of 14-point scorers; Alex Klein and Masey Zegarowski. Klein hit all eight of her free throws and grabbed nine rebounds.
Neither team shot over 36-percent from the field; Bryant at 35.7-percent and Fairleigh Dickinson at 27.4-percent. The teams also combined for 45 fouls and 37 free throw attempts. Twenty-seven of those were shot by Bryant.
"We did a lot of good things today but we have to find a way to keep teams off the foul line," said head coach
Peter Cinella post game. "We have to do a better job hitting shots. We missed a lot of easy shots and open three-pointers. We need to find a way to mentally and physically play tougher."
The Knights shot 19.4-percent (6-of-31) from beyond the arc, which was a season low.
Fairleigh Dickinson returns to action this coming Saturday, January 14 at Central Connecticut. Game time is set for 1 p.m. in New Britain, Connecticut.
