HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Knights (12-4, 4-0) hosted conference rival Stonehill (5-13, 1-4) for the first time in program history and pulled away with a 70-26 victory. The story of the game for the Knights was their stifling defense and clutch three-point buckets. They forced Stonehill to commit 15+ turnovers and shoot less than 22% from the field.
The battle between the Knights and Skyhawks started as a low-scoring affair. With 3:26 remaining in the first 10 minutes of the game the teams were tied 8-8. The Knights finished the quarter on a 9-2 run ignited by
Chloe Wilson to lead 17-10 over the Skyhawks. Wilson led the Knights with 12 points in the quarter on 4-for-9 shooting from the field. The FDU defense was stifling forcing five turnovers and holding Stonehill to 25% shooting in the quarter.
Wilson continued her offensive tirade with six more points in the first four minutes of the second quarter. When Wilson checked out the Knights offensive continued their strong day with buckets from
Ella Fajardo and
Miranda Elebring. The second of four media timeouts came at the 4:15 mark and the Knights were leading 23-10. FDU put together their best defensive quarter of the season when they held the Skyhawks to just two points and 0-for-9 shooting. The Skyhawks only put two free throws in for the quarter. Wilson led the Knights with 18 points and six rebounds in the first half and senior
Celia Carbonell pitched in seven first-half points.
The Skyhawks came out of the half with more of an offensive presence and even forced FDU coach
Angelika Szumilo to call an early timeout after eight quick points. However, the Knights went on a 12-2 run behind strong shooting performances from
Sierra DeAngelo and
Dahomée Forgues. Despite the best scoring outburst in a quarter for Stonehill on the day the Burgundy and Blue still outscored them 18-12 in the quarter. FDU only forced one turnover in the third, but 0-for-7 three-point shooting from the Sky Hawks was a factor in them not cutting into the lead.
The final 10 minutes of play saw the same story as the first 30 minutes. The Skyhawks struggled from the field while the Knights played suffocating defense and hit timely three-pointers. Dominique Garcia-Blackwood checked into the game and hit her first three-pointer of the year to extend the Knights lead to 30 points.
- Wilson led the Knights with her third double-double of the season. She scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds
- Freshman Fajardo put together another solid performance scoring nine points off the bench
- Carbonell shot 4-for-9 from the field, scoring nine points and picking up five rebounds
- The Knights are back in action on Thursday evening when they host St. Francis BK at Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center. It will be the second time an NEC school will be broadcasted on ESPNU. The game will take place at 5 p.m.
