HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU women's basketball (14-3, 4-0) took down Central Connecticut State (4-14, 3-2) by a score of 75-58 on Saturday in Hackensack. The Knights extended their win streak to seven games, and remain undefeated at home in the 2024-25 season.
The Knights throroughly dominated the visiting Blue Devils. FDU took an early 3-0 on the first made basket of the game by
Abby Conklin, and proceeded to hold the lead for the remainder of regulation.
Conklin made history for the Knights in the win. Her early three tied former Knight Kelsey Cruz for the fourth-most 3PM in FDU history. Just five minutes later, Conklin would etch her name into the FDU history books, knocking down another triple to take sole possesion of fourth place in the Knights' all-time leaderboard.
Several other Knights joined Conklin in having exceptional days from beyond the arc, albeit none with any performances as historic as Conklin's. As a team, the Knights shot 10-for-25 from range in the win. It was just the fifth time this season that FDU converted double-digit threes as a team.
Freshman
Ava Renninger helped with the barrage from deep, knocking down two three-pointers en route to a team-high 17 points. It marked the seventh time this season that the freshman has led FDU in scoring.
The Knights also got double-digit scoring performances out of
Lilly Parke and
Abaigeal Babore, scoring 14 and 11 points respectively.
FDU was able to overcome an utterly ridiculous performance from CCSU's Belle Lanpher, the reigning NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Player of the Week. Lanpher, fresh off of a season-high 37 points her last time out, dropped 31 points while playing all 40 minutes for the Blue Devils. Lanpher was responsible for more than half of CCSU's 58 points.
The victory moves the Knights to 14-3 to start off the season. The 14-3 start ties a program record for the best start to a season. A win in FDU's next contest over Chicago State would set a brand-new program record.
THE STATS
- Graduate Student Abby Conklin moved into fourth place all-time amongst FDU three-point shooters.
- Conklin has now knocked down 154 career threes.
- She is 39 threes away from tying former Knights Rita Bernert for third place in program history.
- Ava Renninger continued her dominant freshman campaign, dropping a team-high 17 points.
- Renninger is now averaging 13.4 PPG on the season, leading all Northeast Conference rookies.
- Abby Babore continued what has been a scorching start to conference play.
- The graduate student dropped 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists for the Knights.
- Babore has scored in double-figures in all four games of NEC play for the Knights so far.
- She is leading the team with 15.0 PPG during conference play this season.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Knights will be right back in action, as they host Chicago State at home on Monday, January 20. It will be the first time that FDU and brand-new NEC member Chicago State face off in program history. Tip-off will come at 2:00 p.m, with coverage available on NEC Front Row.
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.
