HACKENSACK, N.J. - The Knights fell to NEC opponent St. Francis Brooklyn in five sets on Saturday in the Rothman Center.

Inside the Box Score

• Sophomore Madisyn Beirne led the Knights with 15 points, tallying 13 kills, two service aces and two blocks.

• Senior Brooke Stevens posted a career-high 13 kills, hitting a .435 average. Stevens also recorded three blocks to pace the Knights with 14.5 points.

• Senior Pauline Giordano posted a double-double with a season-high 33 assists and 15 digs. Giordano tallied six points on the game with three blocks and three kills for a .600 clip.

How it Happened

• Coming out on a four-point run, St. Francis Brooklyn maintained control through the first set, dropping the Knights 25-21.

• The Knights found themselves in a six-point deficit early in set two. It was a four-kill series by Stevens that jolted the Knights into an eight-point run, knotting the game at 18. The teams traded points to 26, but FDU could not hold on, falling 28-26. 

• With a 15-7 lead, the Terriers commanded the first half of set three. Behind six attacks by Beirne, FDU went on a 14-1 run to climb out of the deficit and secure the set 25-20.

• The Knights found momentum on an eight-point run early in the fourth set. The Terriers responded with a 8-1 run of their own, closing the gap at 19. With a pair of kills off assists by Giordano, the Knights topped St. Francis Brooklyn 25-20.

• Set five was a tight battle with both teams going on a five-point burst to level the game. With a pair of kills by St. Francis Brooklyn sophomore Iremnur Elmas, the Terriers defeated the Knights 15-13.

Thoughts from Coach France

"The ladies fought hard after falling behind two sets. We made a few changes and we started rolling. Just fell short of the mark, but the effort of our middle hitters was amazing."

Next Up

The Knights return to NEC play on Thursday when they hit the road to take on Sacred Heart at 7 p.m. in Fairfield, Conn.