HACKENSACK, N.J. - #1 FDU women's basketball began their quest for an NEC Championship in their quarterfinal matchup against #8 Central Connecticut State. The top-seeded Knights routed the Blue Devils 74-48 to advance to the NEC Women's Basketball Championship Semifinal on Thursday, March 9 at Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center.
 
The Knights, who finished the regular season 22-6, opened the game struggling to score and defend early in the first quarter, Blue Devils freshman guard Belle Lanpher was hot early and finished with 16 points. The Blue Devils jumped out to a 7-3 lead before the Knights stormed back to knot the score at 11 a piece after the first 10 minutes of play. The typically hot-shooting Knights only shot 26.7% from the floor in that first quarter before exploding for 57.3% the final three quarters. Despite not holding a lead heading into the second period of play, FDU did not stop their attack. They outscored CCSU 63-37 for the final 30 minutes of play and even held the Blue Devils scoreless for over eight minutes in the first half.
 
The Knights scoring attack on the night came from their typical trio of Sierra DeAngelo, Chloe Wilson, and Dahomée Forgues. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native DeAngelo had a huge night leading FDU with 23 points and four rebounds on a terrific 9-of-14 from the field, including a near-perfect 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. All-Nec First Team selection Wilson pitched in a near double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds in tonight's affair. Forgues was the only other Knight to hit double figures points with 12 on a solid 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. The Quebec native was solid on the glass picking up five rebounds.
 
The Knights got production out of their bench unit with two freshman guards Ella Fajardo and Eniya Scott scoring a combined 15 points.
 
The Knights will host St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday night in the NEC Semifinals. FDU fans can watch the game on ESPN 3, SNY, and NEC Front Row at 7 p.m.