HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team started the 2018-19 season with a dominant 97-51 victory over Rutgers-Newark Tuesday night in the Rothman Center.
 
The Knights (1-0) topped their highest point total since 2002, when the team scored 99 in a overtime battle with Robert Morris. FDU shot 51.4 percent from the floor and forced 31 turnovers. The Knights finished with 21 steals, the most since 2016 (15 against Howard).
 
Four players finished in double figures for the Knights, led by freshman Makayla Thompson with 14 points. Thompson also gathered six steals in her collegiate debut, the most by a Knight since 2016. Senior Peniel M'Bikata added 13 points, and senior Madelynn Comly and sophomore Madison Stanley each added 10 points.
 
"A good start on opening night," head coach Peter Cinella said after the game. "Glad to see everyone score and contribute. I'm very happy with a very high total of 21 assists, and we did a really good job of getting deflections and consequently 21 steals."
 
The Knights started off on a 13-2 run to open the game, with senior Natalie Zamora scoring six points over the first 3:20 of the game. The Scarlet Raiders cut the lead down to five, but the Knights quickly regained a double-digit lead on Lindsey Mack's first career triple, making it 18-8.
 
Three-pointers from juniors Jenna Clark and Elise Graham helped FDU close the first period with a 26-11 advantage, and the Knights tallied the first seven points of the second period as well. FDU would build its lead to 35 points at halftime, and the game never dipped below a 34-point margin the rest of the way.
 
"It's really good to see the veteran players get off to a good start," Cinella continued. "Some of the new players came in today and really showed they're going to be good players. Had a big crowd today. You could see we should have an exciting team, really fast-paced with a really deep roster."
 
All 13 Knights players that appeared in the game scored at least two points, with five players scoring their first points as Knights. Along with Thompson, Mack finished with three triples for nine points, and freshman Madeline Selvaggi added six points, three assists and three steals in her collegiate debut.
 
Freshman Rachael Niles started at point guard in her first game at FDU, finishing with five points and two assists. Junior Charee Osborne also made her Knights debut, leading the team with seven rebounds to go with two points.
 
Stanley recorded a career-high three blocks and grabbed five rebounds as well.
 
The Knights continue their homestand this week with a game against Lafayette on Friday, November 9, at 7 p.m., in the Rothman Center.