HACKENSACK, N.J – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team was locked in a defensive battle with Stony Brook on Sunday afternoon and fell to the Seawolves, 56-51.
 
Neither team was able to find offensive continuity as both sides shot under 39-percent. The teams combined to go 8-of-32 from three-point range. The defense of Fairleigh Dickinson (3-1) forced 18 turnovers from Stony Brook (3-0) and the Seawolves turned the Knights over 15 times.
 
Stony Brook held the advantage from the free throw line. The Seawolves went 15-of-17 (88%) compared to Fairleigh Dickinson at 10-of-12 (83%).
 
The Knights had a chance to tie the game with 33 seconds left when Amina Markovic stepped to the free throw. The senior made the first but missed the second; then the Seawolves controlled the rebound. Stony Brook made six free throws inside the final 33 seconds. Markovic hit a layup with six seconds left to make it 54-51 Stony Brook before Aaliyah Worley hit two more free throws for the Seawolves.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson was led by Markovic's 15 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Natalie Zamora and Lauren Francillon added 10 each.
 
For Stony Brook, Shania Johnson had a game-high 23 points and had six rebounds, four assists and two steals as well.
 
The game was tied for the 15th and final time at 45-45 when Francillon hit a jumper from the top of the key with 5:13 to play in regulation. Stony Brook's Cheyenne Clark hit a free throw on the next possession to give Stony Brook a 46-45 lead and the lead for good.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson would get the lead to two on a pair of Natalie Zamora free throws with two minutes left before Markovic's two attempts with 33 ticks remaining.
 
Up next for the Knights is a 12 pm tilt with Colgate at the Rothman Center on Wednesday afternoon. The game is part of a doubleheader with the men, who face Holy Cross after the women's game. Both games will be shown on necfrontrow.com.