HACKENSACK, N.J. - FDU women's basketball outlasted Sacred Heart at home on Monday in the NEC Tournament Quarterfinal game. The Knights will advance to the semifinal round on Thursday as the No. 1 seed to take on No. 7 Bryant in Stratis Arena.
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How it Happened
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Madison Stanley opened FDU scoring in the paint, as Aniya Bell shot four-for-four from the free throw line to establish an early 6-3 edge. Sacred Heart entered a five-minute scoring drought, broken with a jumper by Kelsey Wood with 3:19 remaining. Madeline Selvaggi copped a steal for a breakaway basket, ending the quarter 15-9.
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Sacred Heart opened the second quarter in a three-minute scoreless period as Stanley recorded four points in the first five minutes. With 4:25 remaining, the Pioneers took off on a seven-point run, outscoring the Knights 13-12 in the period.
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Both teams came out of halftime on the offensive front, recording 23 points each in the third quarter. Bell drained three baskets from the distance in under a minute as Chloe Wilson logged a triple and six points in the paint. The teams traded baskets to close the third quarter 50-45.
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With 6:32 remaining in the game, Asia McCray leveled the score at 52 for the first tie of the game. A layup by Dahomée Forgues sent the Knights on a seven-point run to force a gap which the Knights would maintain to drop the Pioneers 66-58.
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Inside the Box Score
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Aniya Bell led the Knights with a team-high 20 points and eight rebounds.The junior shot four-for-four in the third quarter to shoot a 60 percent clip from the field in the game.Â
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Madison Stanley and Chloe Wilson also recorded double-digit points with a combined nine rebounds. Stanley added two assists and three blocks while Wilson copped a steal to guide FDU's defensive effort.
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The Pioneers were held to shooting 21.5 percent in the first quarter, leading the Knights in just the first three minutes of play.
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Next Up
The NEC Regular Season Champion Knights will take on No. 7 Bryant on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Stratis Arena. The winner will earn a spot in the NEC Finals game, set to take place Sunday at noon.
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