HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU women's basketball (8-3, 0-0) will continue their impressive season this coming weekend when they host a number of teams to Hackensack for the FDU Christmas Classic. Coppin State, Bryant, and Maine will each see action in the Bogota Savings Bank Center during a two-day weekend tournament on December 28 and 29.

The Knights will first face off on Saturday against Maine (4-7, 0-0) at 4:00 p.m. Coverage will be available on NEC Front Row. FDU will be the second game of the afternoon following the first game of the tournament between Coppin State and Bryant at 1:30 p.m.

FDU will look to stay undefeated at home during the weekend, and build off of an impressive showing their last time out against Saint Michael's on December 19. The Knights emerged victorious in that contest by a score of 91-52, behind an impressive 26 point, 15 rebound performance out of Teneisia Brown. Brown's impressive showing earned her a spot as an NEC Prime Performer for the previous week. 

Freshman Kailee McDonald also showed out in the recent win for FDU, scoring a career-high 18 points on 5 made three-pointers. McDonald has been one of several rookies to make appearances for FDU this season, in a class highlighted by starting freshman point guard Ava Renninger. 

Renninger will be a name to watch for the Knights over the weekend bout. She currently leads the team in scoring with 13.2 PPG, and has scored in double figures in seven of her 11 appearances this season. 

The Knights' first opponent in Maine ride a 4-7 record into the banks of the Hackensack. Maine has been one of the better perimeter teams in the nation this season, ranking 23rd in the nation with 8.8 three-point field goals made per game. The Black Bears are also coming off of a historic shooting performance, as they converted a program-record 19 threes in their previous win over Bates College on 12/21. 

Maine has been without their star player Adrianna Smith this season. A two-time America East First Team Selection and the 2022-23 America East Player of the Year, Smith's loss proves as a big void for the Black Bears.

It will be the first time in program history that FDU and Maine face off.

Following FDU's contest against Maine on 12/28, the Knights will face off against Bryant (7-4, 0-0) on December 29 at 3:30 p.m. That game will be the capstone to the FDU Christmas Classic, following the early afternoon matchup between Coppin State and Maine. 

The Knights will face a scrappy Bryant team that has already picked up wins over two other NEC schools this season.  The Bulldogs have dealt with some absences throughout the season, but have persevered, and feature four different players averaging double-digit scoring totals.

COMING SOON

The FDU Christmas Classic will finish the non-conference portion of the schedule for the Knights. After the tournament, FDU will kick off Northeast Conference play at home against Wagner on January 4. 

Connect with FDU Women's Basketball on X and Instagram, @FDUKnightsWBB.

Segovia Steakhouse is the presenting sponsor of the 2024-25 FDU Women's Basketball season.