HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team carried a lead into the fourth quarter against Mount St. Mary's but fell at home 69-61 on Alumni Day.
 
The Knights (7-13, 4-5 NEC) pulled ahead in the third period after trailing by six midway through the period and went into the final quarter up 49-46. The Mountaineers (11-9, 6-2 NEC), however, then retook the lead by going on a 12-0 run that provided them the difference in the game. After making 13-of-22 shots (59.1 percent) in the second and third quarters, FDU was held to just 6-of-18 from the field in the last 10 minutes as Mount shot 7-of-8 from the field in the final period.
 
Freshman Aniya Bell and sophomore Rachael Niles led the Knights with 14 points apiece, with Niles pulling in seven rebounds as well. Senior Lauren Francillon finished with 12 points, four rebounds and three steals, and freshman Jayde Boyd led FDU with eight rebounds to go with seven points and two assists. Freshman Maria Roters added six points, six rebounds and four assists as well.
 
"We definitely fought hard and I applaud our team for really fighting and focusing in the third quarter, building a three-point lead," head coach Angelika Szumilo said. "Mount St. Mary's is a good team and they're one of the toughest teams in our conference. Decision-making, especially in the fourth quarter, was what hurt us in the end. We put them on the line a lot. They only took eight field goals in the fourth quarter, so we need to be able to play defense without fouling."
 
Bell matched her season-high point total by making 7-of-11 shots, including four of her last five attempts, across a season-high 30 minutes while pulling down four rebounds, dishing out four assists and totaling two steals.
 
"Aniya had some good practices leading up to this game, and offensively, I know what I can get from her," Szumilo said. "It's always can she defend, and she did that for the most part today, and that was rewarded in the minutes that she played."
 
The freshman made both of FDU's first two field-goals to start the game, and the first of four threes from Niles then tied the game at 7 before Boyd gave FDU its first lead with a three of her own. The Mount, however, closed the quarter on a 5-0 run and took a 14-12 lead after one period.
 
Bell made a layup on FDU's first possession of the second period to tie the game, but the Mount regained the advantage in taking a lead as much as eight points. The Knights then fought back starting with a Francillon layup, and a three-pointer from freshman Celia Carbonell brought the Knights back within two at 30-28. The Mountaineers then ended the FDU run with a layup and went to halftime ahead 38-33.
 
Another Francillon jumper and a Niles three helped FDU even the score again two minutes into the third period, and after Mount went back up by six points, the Knights held Mount without a point over the next five minutes as two Boyd free throws began a 9-0 FDU run that provided the home team a three-point lead at 49-46.
 
Francillon matched two Mount baskets to start the fourth and help FDU maintain a three-point lead with eight minutes to go, but the Mountaineers then started their 12-0 run to go up by nine points before Francillon ended the run on a layup with just over three minutes to go. The Mount then continued to match FDU point-for-point to hold their lead and earn the win.
 
FDU finished the game shooting 42.1 percent from the floor and 6-of-20 from three while making 7-of-9 free throws. The Mount shot 52.3 percent from the field and made 15-of-23 free throw attempts while also sinking 8-of-19 three-pointers. The Knights held the advantage on the boards, 37-24, but committed 22 turnovers while forcing 17 from the Mount.
 
The Knights also dished out 14 assists and are now 7-2 this season when recording at least 14 assists in a game.

As part of the day's action in the Rothman Center, FDU hosted former players and held a halftime ceremony honoring those in attendance. The Knights also celebrated National Girls & Women in Sports Day with in-game festivities.
 
FDU makes a short road trip for its next game on Monday night, going to Staten Island to take on the Wagner Seahawks at 7 p.m.