HACKENSACK, N.J. – Sophomore Maria Roters scored a career-high 22 points to help propel FDU (7-4, 3-3 NEC) to a 73-64 conference victory against Merrimack (0-2, 0-2 NEC) on Sunday afternoon from the Rothman Center. After trailing 37-33 at the break, FDU used a strong second half and outscored Merrimack 40-27 in the second half to come away with the win.

Roters shot an efficient 8-10 from the floor and pulled down six rebounds. Junior Lindsey Mack put up a season-high 18 points and connected on four three-pointers. Senior Madison Stanley also scored in double-figures with 13 points and made five free throws. 

Coach Szumilo's Thoughts
When asked about the key to making a comeback in the second half, Coach Szumilo stated, "On offense, we ended up with only four turnovers in the second half which I thought was the reason why we were able to the game around because, when you don't turn the ball over you just spend that much more time on offense."

"We came out flat to start the game and they scored 21 points in the first 10 minutes and we scored 18, so it really wasn't an issue of us scoring, but it was us defending. We needed to address that at halftime because, to give up 37 points at the half is a lot, but we came out of the locker room more focused and only allowed 10 points in the third and had an offensive outburst."

Coach Szumilo Full Press Conference

How it Happened

• Merrimack jumped out to an early 19-9 lead, but FDU ended the quarter on a 9-2 run that was sparked by three-pointers from sophomore Celia Carbonell and junior Lindsey Mack as FDU trailed 21-18 after the first stanza. 
• After getting down by as many as 11 points, FDU cut the deficit to as close as three with 4:48 left in the second as Mack continued to have the hot hand in the second with two more three-pointers from the wing. 
• Roters scored four of her seven second quarter points over the final 1:49 of the frame as FDU trailed 37-33 going into the half led by Roters and Mack each netting 12 first half points. 
• FDU was able to tie the game at 38-38 with 9:02 left in the third with a three-pointer from freshman Abby Conklin and from the 9:02 to the 6:20 mark, there were two lead changes and the score was tied twice before FDU ended the quarter on a 14-5 run that was capped off by a three-pointer from junior Madeline Selvaggi to take a 56-47 lead into the final frame.
• Merrimack's Kate Mager and Conklin opened the fourth by trading three-pointers before Merrimack got as close as 59-57 with 5:04 remaining, but Roters pushed the lead back up to five with 4:06 to play.
• The teams continued to jostle for the lead as Merrimack got back within two points in a 64-62 game with 2:12 to go off three Mager free throws, but the Knights were able to put the game away as they connected on nine free throws, including five from Mack to pull away with a 73-64 victory against Merrimack. 

Inside the Box Score

• FDU shot 47.1 percent from the floor and made a season-high 10 three-pointers.
• The Knights forced 18 Merrimack turnovers and registered 12 steals.
• FDU dished out 13 assists on 24 made shots.
• Selvaggi scored six points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists, and recorded three steals.
• Seven FDU players scored at least three points.
• FDU is now 2-2 all-time against Merrimack and pushes the winning streak to three games.

What's Next
FDU will travel to Mount St. Mary's for a two-game series beginning on Thursday, January 28 at 7:00 p.m. at Knott Arena in Emmitsburg, Md.