BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team shot nearly 50 percent from the field but could not keep pace with a strong-shooting St. Francis Brooklyn team in a 73-61 road loss Saturday afternoon.
 
The Knights (6-15, 3-7 NEC) shot 59.1 percent in the first half (13-of-22) and outrebounded the Terriers (13-9, 7-3 NEC), 13-12, in the opening 20 minutes but entered halftime down by three points. The Terriers then opened up a double-digit lead by outscoring the Knights by eight in the third quarter and answered the Knights point-for-point in the final 10 minutes.
 
FDU finished the game shooting 49 percent from the floor (25-of-51), their best mark since the season-opening win over Rutgers-Newark (51.4 percent shooting). The Knights also made seven of nine free throws and dished out 11 assists as a team.
 
Senior Madelynn Comly started the game connecting on her first six shots from the field and finished with a season-high 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting to go with three assists and two steals. The senior surpassed 900 career points early in the first half and now has 916 points in her career.
 
Sophomore Madison Stanley registered her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds to go with two blocks. Junior Lauren Francillon added 12 points and four rebounds along with two blocks. Francillon is one block away from becoming the seventh Knight in program history with 100 career blocks, and she is also 10 rebounds away from 500 career boards.
 
"Our team came in today and we were very efficient offensively, shooting 59 percent in the first half and close to 50 percent for the game," head coach Peter Cinella said after the game. "Give credit to Brooklyn, they were very effective offensive team. We tried to give them some different looks defensively, and although we were able to do a good job on their two all-conference guards, they had some other players step up."
 
"Maddie Comly played a very effective game offensively, and we had some different people come off the bench and be productive for us, so that's a good sign," Cinella continued. "Madison Stanley had a very good game, was extremely effective on the boards and very efficient with her offense today."
 
The Terriers hit a three to start the game before Francillon connected for her first jumper of the game. A Comly layup kept the Knights within one halfway through the opening period, and junior Jenna Clark provided the Knights their first lead with a three-pointer to make it 7-5.
 
St. Francis regained the lead with back-to-back three-point plays before Stanley sank a hook shot to keep FDU within two at 11-9. Francillon tied the game again with a layup, but the Terriers countered with five straight points to regain the advantage, and the Terriers ended the period with a 19-13 lead.
 
Comly sank a jumper to start the second period, but the Terriers scored six of the first nine points of the period in opening up a nine-point lead. Comly continued her hot start with a three-pointer and then a driving layup to bring the Knights within four, 25-21.
 
St. Francis answered with four straight points before senior Natalie Zamora made a runner in the lane and Comly made her fifth straight shot, making it 29-25. Zamora then finished a tough lefty shot to cut the deficit down to two, but the Terriers made another short run to go back up by seven before a Comly floater ended the run. Francillon sent both teams to the locker rooms with a jumper to beat the buzzer and make it 34-31.
 
Senior Peniel M'Bikata answered a Terrier bucket to start the second half with a layup, and Clark brought the Knights within one with a layup off an offensive rebound. St. Francis then scored the next seven points to retake an eight-point lead.
 
Freshman Lindsey Mack ended the Terrier run with a three from the corner to make it 46-38, but the Terriers entered the final period with a 11-point lead in outscoring the Knights 19-11 in the third period.
 
Stanley and Francillon each made baskets to keep the Knights within 11 to start the fourth period, and Stanley sank a deep two to cut the margin down to nine. Comly kept the Knights within nine, 61-52, by making her second three-pointer of the game, but the Terriers extended their lead to 12 with four minutes left.
 
Comly later hit a runner and drew a foul, sinking the free throw to make it 65-55 with under three minutes to go. After forcing a turnover on defense, Francillon sank a jumper from the wing to bring the Knights back within eight. The Terriers answered with a basket of their own, however, and continued to have an answer for late baskets by the Knights to hold on for the win.
 
The Terriers held the edge on the boards, 31-26, and also won the turnover battle by a 17-12 margin. St. Francis had five players score in double figures, led by Ally Lassen with 17 points, and shot 51.7 percent from the field as a team.
 
The Knights return to action Monday night when they go to Sacred Heart for a 6 p.m. game.