HACKENSACK, N.J. – Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball junior Madison Stanley netted a career-high 22 points as Fairleigh Dickinson fell in a close battle with Manhattan, 62-61, at home Saturday afternoon.
 
In a tightly-contested game throughout, the Knights (0-3) fought their way back from a third-period deficit to close to within one point at the end of three quarters, and the Knights carried their momentum into the fourth, building up a lead to as many as nine points in the last period. The Jaspers (1-2), however, closed the game out on a late run that culminated with a winning layup in the final seconds.

"I am very proud of our team ahow we fought today on both ends," head coach Angelika Szumilo said after the game. "While we didn't come out with a win, I thought as a team we're making the right progress and continue to grow. Difference maker in this game was rebounding and we have to get better at it. Credit to Manhattan for finding a way to win."
 
Stanley made 9-of-14 field goals in surpassing her previous high of 16 points while also draining 2-of-4 three-point attempts, pulling down five rebounds and blocking three shots. The junior scored 11 of FDU's first 17 points in the game and also netted her team's first six points of the third period. Her nine made field goals are the most in a game by a Knight since Lauren Francillon made 10-of-12 shots in her 31-point game last season vs. CCSU.
 
Sophomore Lindsey Mack also matched her career-high of four made three-pointers to finish with 12 points. Senior Elise Graham made 4-of-6 baskets and totaled nine points, while fellow classmate Courtney Blankenship chipped in seven points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Rachael Niles led the Knights with a career-high 10 rebounds to go with seven points, three assists and two steals.
 
Stanley opened the game with a long jumper from the wing, and baskets from Niles and Blankenship later put the Knights ahead 6-2 in the first four minutes of play. Manhattan would tie the game back up before Stanley responded with a three-pointer, but the Jaspers closed the first quarter on a 10-2 run to take a five-point lead.
 
Two Stanley free throws pulled the Knights within three to begin the second period, and a floater in the lane from Graham followed by a steal from freshman Maria Roters set up Stanley to drive for a layup that brought the Knights to within two, 19-17. Back-to-back threes by Mack then helped FDU close the gap to one point, and Graham then played a key role in making two layups to answer Jaspers baskets before dishing out a pass to an open Blankenship for a three that provided FDU the lead again at 30-28. Manhattan, however, scored on its next possession to tie the game at 30 heading into halftime.
 
The junior from Woodbridge, N.J., provided FDU with its offense through the first eight minutes of the third period to keep her team within range, and back-to-back triples from Mack and freshman Celia Carbonell gave the Knights a 42-41 advantage.
 
Manhattan then ended the period with a bucket, but a Niles three quickly shifted the lead back to FDU, and the back-and-forth action continued until the Knights went on a 9-0 run over a two-minute stretch to take the largest lead of the game, 56-48. The Jaspers fought back to within four before Stanley sank her second three and then converted a jumper to stretch the lead to nine.
 
FDU, however, would be held without a point the rest of the way, as Manhattan closed to within one point with 14 seconds left, then forced a turnover on FDU's next possession and converted a layup with five seconds left. With no timeouts remaining, Stanley inbounded the ball to Mack, who drove up the court but could not get a three-point shot off in time as time expired.
 
FDU shot a season-best 44.4 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range while also holding Manhattan to under 30 percent shooting (20-68, 29.4 percent). The Knights also dished out 12 assists as a team. Manhattan outrebounded FDU though, 46-35, and converted 18-of-22 foul shots.
 
The Knights go on the road for their next game on Tuesday, traveling to play at ACC-foe Pittsburgh for an 11 a.m., contest.