HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team will enter the 2020 Northeast Conference as the no. 3 seed and face sixth seed Bryant in its quarterfinal game on Monday, March 9, at 7 p.m.
#3 FDU (12-17, 9-9 NEC) vs. #6 Bryant (10-19, 8-10 NEC)
Monday, March 9 | 7 PM | Rothman Center - Hackensack, N.J.
Tickets: CLICK HERE
Watch: NEC Front Row
Links: Live Stats | Twitter | Instagram
Tournament Homepage: Click Here
Full NEC Tournament Bracket
All-Time Series
Bryant 16, FDU 6
at Rothman Center: Bryant leads, 7-4
In NEC Tournament: First-Ever Meeting
This Season: Bryant 57, FDU 45; Bryant 55, FDU 47
History in Hackensack
FDU has reached the NEC Tournament in six straight seasons but has not hosted a NEC Tournament game at home since 1997. FDU defeated Wagner in its first-ever home playoff game in 1990, 69-53, and went on to win the NEC Championship that season. The Knights, however, have not won a NEC Tournament game since capturing the 1992 NEC Title.
The Knights' 9-9 mark in the conference during the regular season is their best NEC record since the 2008-09 season. FDU's 12 wins overall under first-year head coach Angelika Szumilo marks a four-win improvement from last season. FDU also set a single-season record with 192 made three-pointers in 2019-20, breaking the previous record of 169 made threes accomplished in 2016-17 season.
Last Time Out
Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball senior forward Lauren Francillon turned in a monster game of 33 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Knights to a 66-63 road win at Mount St. Mary's, clinching the number three seed for the Knights in the upcoming Northeast Conference Tournament.
The Knights (12-17, 9-9 NEC) will be hosting a NEC Quarterfinal game in the Rothman Center for the first time since 1997. It will be the fourth time in program history the Knights will play a home NEC playoff game, and the no. 3 seed in the tournament is the highest for the Knights since the 1992-93 season when they tied for the regular-season title.
Francillon scored her 33 points, a career-high, on a career-best 14-of-19 shooting night that included hitting five of seven threes, also a career-best. She also passed the 700 career rebound threshold with her third board of the game, becoming the eighth player in program history to reach the feat. The senior scored 22 of her 33 points in the second half, helping ignite multiple runs that provided the boost the Knights needed to win.
The Knights finished the game shooting an even 50 percent from the field (24-of-48) and made 11-of-14 free throws as well while holding the Mountaineers (19-11, 14-4 NEC), who will be the no. 2 seed in the NEC Tournament, to just 31.7 percent shooting. The Knights also dominated on the glass, 44-23, and dished out 11 assists. Francillon recorded four of FDU's five blocks in the game as well. FDU's senior now needs 22 points to reach the 1,000 career point plateau, becoming the 19th player in program history to reach the milestone.
Sophomore Rachael Niles added 14 points and seven rebounds, making all eight of her free throw attempts that included four critical freebies in the fourth quarter. Freshman Maria Roters led FDU with five assists while adding eight points and five rebounds, and freshman Aniya Bell also added six points and five boards.
Coach Szumilo's Thoughts
"This shows to the growth of our players from game one to game 29," head coach Angelika Szumilo said. "I'm just extremely happy for them because we never lost trust in the process and we just got better and better. To finish number three is very special, and I know the team is very excited about that."
"When you talk about a player in the zone, that is what she was tonight," Szumilo said. "She was hitting two's, three's, fadeaways, pull-up jumpers, and she was totally in the zone today. She was the difference maker on both ends today."
"I think this gives us a lot of confidence," Szumilo said. "Our team believed before the game that we could beat them, and that's where it starts. To get that win on the road against a good Mount St. Mary's team just adds to their confidence, and now to have a home game, I'm just so happy for them."
What's Next
If the Knights win their NEC Quarterfinal matchup, they will advance to the NEC Semifinals for the first time since 1992, with the game scheduled for Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m., at a site still to be determined.
Marriott Saddle Brook is the presenting sponsor of the 2019-20 women's basketball season.
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