SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team (16-7, 12-6 NEC) extended its winning streak to seven games with a 64-58 win over Bryant (7-14, 5-12 NEC) on Friday afternoon from the Chace Athletic Center. The seven wins in a row are FDU's longest since the 1992-93 season when the Knights won nine in a row. 

The victory is also Coach Angelika Szumilo's 21st NEC regular season win in two years, which is the most of any coach in their first two years in program history. The 12 NEC wins are also the most since the 1992-93 season when they won 14 NEC games.

Three FDU players scored in double-figures in the victory, led by 13 points from senior Madison Stanley. Stanley connected on five shots and made three free throws and has scored 10 or more points in 15 of her last 16 games. Sophomore Celia Carbonell and freshman Chloe Wilson each netted 11 points off the bench.

The Knights are set to make their seventh NEC Tournament appearance in a row and marks the second straight year they will finish in the top four of the NEC regular season standings. FDU is the fourth seed in the NEC Tournament and will play at Mount St. Mary's on Wednesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. The other Semifinal game is between No. 3 Saint Francis U and No. 2 Wagner from Staten Island, N.Y.

Click here for NEC Tournament information.

Coach Szumilo's Thoughts
"What I love about our team this year is how well balanced we are," said Coach Szumilo following the Knights victory. "We had 28 points off the bench tonight. Chloe and Celia especially gave us very good minutes on both ends."

"I'm extremely proud of this group! Their perseverance and ability to deal with the challenges Covid-19 has brought on them this year is second to none. They are focused and excited to have another chance at MSM. Last year we were just about to play them in the Semifinals when everything got canceled."

How it Happened

• Much like last night, defense set the tone early as each team scored five points over the first 5:40 of the game, with the FDU offense being led by a driving lefty layup from sophomore Maria Roters and a corner three from junior Lindsey Mack off a nice pass from freshman Devyn Scott. 
• Scott took over for FDU the remainder of the first quarter as she scored or assisted on the Knights final six points of the quarter with assists to senior Madison Stanley and fellow freshman Chloe Wilson as well as a driving layup with 0:07 remaining in the frame as FDU led 11-10 after one stanza in which the Knights held Bryant to 22.2 percent from the floor.
• FDU opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run over the first 1:53 sparked by buckets from Roters, Stanley, Wilson, and a three-pointer from sophomore Celia Carbonell as FDU held a 20-10 lead.
• Bryant responded with a 13-4 run of their own sparked by their senior leader Brooke Bjelko who netted 11 first half points and brought the Bulldogs within one point at 24-23 with 1:24 to go in the second, but Mack connected on a jumper from the elbow and sophomore Sierra DeAngelo hit a three-pointer as FDU scored the final five points of the half to take a 29-23 advantage into the half. 
• The Bulldogs got back within two points of the lead with 7:15 remaining in the third before junior Madeline Selvaggi received a pass from Mack and knocked down a triple from the left side of the arc to push the lead back to five with 6:26 to go in the third.
• Over the next 4:35 of the third, FDU went on a 13-5 run that was led by a pair of three-pointers from Carbonell, a three and a layup from Wilson, and a fast break layup from Scott as the Knights pushed the lead to 47-34 with 1:56 to go in the period and ended the period with eight made field goals as they led 49-38 entering the final stanza.
• Both teams scored seven points apiece over the first 4:22 of the fourth quarter on a three-pointer from Selvaggi and buckets from Carbonell and Roters as FDU still led by 11 points, with a 56-45 advantage.
• A Selvaggi layup and DeAngelo triple pushed the lead to as many as 16 points with 3:59 to go, but Bryant stormed back with an 11-0 run and got within five points with 0:40 seconds to go. 
• The comeback was not enough as Stanley made three key free throws down the stretch as FDU came away with its seventh straight win and a 64-58 victory. 

Inside the Box Score

• FDU shot 43.3 percent from the floor and made 26 shots in the contest.
• The Knights held Bryant to 41.7 percent from the floor field and forced 13 turnovers.
• The Burgundy and Blue were outrebounded by a narrow 36-34 margin.
• The Knights dished out 15 assists and netted 30 points in the paint.
• Bjelko led Bryant with a game-high 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. 
• Eight FDU players that played in the game scored at least four points and seven tallied at least five points. 

What's Next
FDU will open the NEC Tournament on Wednesday, March 10 when they travel to Emmitsburg, Md. to face Mount St. Mary's beginning at 7:00 p.m. The game will be streamed on both NEC Front Row and ESPN3.