HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU women's basketball (15-3, 5-0) defeated Chicago State (1-19, 1-4) on Monday afternoon in thrilling comeback fashion. The Knights took the game by a score of 49-43, after trailing into the second half of play. The win moves the Knights to 15-3 on the season, a new program record for best start to a regular season campaign. The previous record was held by both this year's FDU team and the 1991-92 NEC Championship-winning Knights team, at 14-3.
The Knights fell into an early hole after some shooting woes. FDU shot just 31.0% from the field across the first half. Compared to a Chicago State offense that got out to a hot start, the Knights went into the halftime break trailing 31-25. Trailing at halftime is not part of the gameplan that FDU wants. Prior to Monday's game, FDU was just 1-3 on the season when trailing at the half.
Turns out the halftime deficit for FDU provided the extra motivation the Knights needed to turn things around, as they came out with an extra fire in the second half.
FDU ripped off a 9-0 run to begin the third quarter. A pair of early buckets from
Ava Renninger got the Knights within striking distance at the halfway point through the quarter. At just under the five-minute mark,
Bella Toomey converted a nice layup to tie the game up at 31. Following a miss on the other end by Chicago State,
Abaigeal Babore found
Lilly Parke open for three, and the New Zealand native knocked down a triple to give FDU a 34-31 lead.
The Knights would not give the lead up after that.
Outscoring Chicago State 18-5 in the third, FDU took a 43-36 lead into the final ten minutes. The Knights weren't completely out of the woods yet though.
The offense got cold again to start the final frame for FDU. The Knights missed their first six shots of the quarter, and with just two minutes left in regulation, FDU had yet to score any points in the fourth. Renninger stopped the eight-minute scoring drought with a layup, but Chicago State was not going away quietly. A series of baskets from the Cougars found them trailing by just two with 39 seconds left.
After a timeout from head coach
Stephanie Gaitley, FDU advanced the ball and held possession with those final 39 seconds left. After winding some time off, Abby Babore was fouled while hunting for a shot with 17 seconds left. With Chicago State over the foul limit, Babore was sent to the line and knocked down a pair, extending the Knight lead to two possession with just 17 seconds left.
On the other end of the floor, Chicago State would commit a turnover, leading to two final free throws from
Ava Renninger to seal the game in favor of FDU.
THE STATS
- Ava Renninger led the Knights in scoring for the eighth time in her freshman campaign.
- The Yardley, PA native scored a game-high 15 points to go with five rebounds and two assists.
- Abaigeal Babore continued what has been utter dominance in NEC play.
- The graduate student scored 14 points along with nine rebounds.
- Babore is averaging a team-high 14.8 PPG in NEC play, and has scored in double figures in all five contests.
- Babore and Renninger each played the full 40 minutes for FDU, not seeing any breaks.
- It was the Knights' lowest scoring total in a win this season, and only the second time they scored under 50 points in a game (41 PTS at UConn, 11/20).
WHAT'S NEXT
FDU will next travel up to Massachusetts to face off against Stonehill for the first time this season. The two programs sit atop the NEC leaderboard in terms of standings. Tip-off will come at 7:00 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.
