Box Score Syracuse, N.Y. — The third-seeded FDU Knights (14-17, 11-6) fell to the second-seeded Le Moyne Dolphins (18-13, 15-2), 52-38, in the NEC Tournament semifinals on Thursday night on Ted Moore Court.
 
The Dolphins' win sends them to the conference final, where they will take on top-seeded Sacred Heart, which downed fourth-seeded Merrimack in the teams' semifinal matchup. Meanwhile, the Knights' loss closes out their 2023-24 campaign with a 14-17 record, which was highlighted by an 11-6 conference campaign.
 
FDU got off to a slow start, as Le Moyne recorded the first 10 points of the first quarter. The Knights found their first points of the contest at the 1:11 mark with a three-point play from Abaigeal Babore.
 
Despite the early deficit, FDU responded in the second quarter, outscoring the Dolphins 15-14 to close the gap to 24-18 by halftime.
 
At the start of the third quarter, Le Moyne used four straight free throws to extend its advantage back out to double digits, and the Knights failed to close the gap over the contest's final 20 minutes.
 
The low-scoring first quarter proved to plague the Knights, as they kept the final three quarters of the contest close, 42-35.
 
Teneisia Brown led the offensive charge for the Knights, notching her 11th double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Lilly Parke also provided a double-digit scoring performance, collecting 10 points, while also adding seven rebounds.
 
Babore, FDU's third-leading scorer in the loss, recorded all of her seven points in the first half.
 

How it Happened

First Quarter

• Le Moyne jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, holding the Knights to zero points through the first nine minutes of the game.
• Babore broke through for FDU at the 1:11 mark, completing a three-point play to send the Knights into the second quarter facing a 10-3 deficit.

Second Quarter

• Babore continued to provide scoring for the Knights, opening the second quarter with a three-pointer to close the gap to four.
• After the Dolphins added a pair of jumpers to extend their lead, the Knights responded with a 12-8 run to close within four with a minute to play in the half.
• Le Moyne ended the half with a layup as FDU faced a 24-18 deficit heading to the locker room. 

Third Quarter

• Le Moyne used four straight free throws to extend its lead to 10 points early in the third quarter.
• Wilma Sorensen closed the gap to nine at the 3:32 mark with a three-pointer, but the Dolphins did not let up, adding four straight points to push their lead back to 13.
• Brown added a buzzer-beating jumper to close the third, but FDU was still down, 36-25, with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Fourth Quarter

• The Knights looked to find a fourth-quarter comeback, but the two teams were level, 10-10, in fourth-quarter points midway through the frame.
• Bella Toomey and Brown added late baskets for FDU, but it was not enough, as Le Moyne outscored the Knights, 6-4, in the game's final four minutes to take home the victory.

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Holy Name Medical Center is the presenting sponsor for the 2023-24 FDU women's basketball season.