RIVERDALE, N.Y. – FDU women's basketball (2-2, 0-0) defeated Manhattan (0-3, 0-0) by a score of 65-63 on Wednesday night.
The Knights got off to an early advantage, even before the game tipped off. Manhattan was hit with an administrative technical foul for failing to submit their starters by the appropriate time. As a result, Ava Renninger was given a trip to the free throw line prior to tip-off. Renninger went one for two at the line, giving the Knights a 1-0 lead as the tip came around.
FDU built off the momentum of the technical foul to begin the game. The Knights opened up regulation on a 12-2 run, behind two big three-pointers out of Kailee McDonald. Manhattan shortened the gap to close the first quarter, but the Knights' defense remained rock-solid. FDU held Manhattan to just nine points across the first quarter on 3-for-15 shooting.
The second quarter saw Manhattan begin to figure out their offense. The Jaspers crawled back into the game following an 8-0 run across four minutes. Turnovers were the Knights' kryptonite in the second. FDU turned the ball over five times in the quarter, a major factor in allowing the Jaspers to get back into the game.
In the second half, the Jaspers were able to flip the script on the Knights. The offense was clicking for Manhattan in the third, as they shot 50% from both the field, and from beyond the arc. Combined with some solid defensive pressure on the Knights, the Jaspers were able to keep chipping away, and eventually took a 40-39 lead with three minutes left in the quarter. The Knights just barely pulled away to close the quarter following another three-pointer by Kailee McDonald. FDU would take a 43-42 lead into the final ten minutes.
The fourth quarter saw things tighten up in Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan kept hanging around with the Knights, keeping things a two-possession game up until the final three minutes. With 2:36 left in regulation, Madlena Gerke knocked down a big three-pointer from the top of the key, extending the Knight lead to seven. It seemed to be the final blow for Manhattan, who, following a free throw, still trailed by six with under thirty seconds left.
Then, with just 14 seconds left, chaos ensued.
Jasper guard Hana Muhl knocked down a jumper, cutting the Knight lead to four with 14 seconds left, and beginning the free throw game. Manhattan intentionally fouled Ava Renninger on the ensuing inbound, sending her to the free throw line with ten seconds on the clock. Renninger missed both free throws on her trip to the line.
Manhattan's Brianna Davis knocked down a three following a timeout, making it a 62-61 FDU lead with five seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Renninger was again sent to the free throw line intentionally. This time, the Knights' sophomore knocked down both her tries, and gave FDU a 64-61 lead with 1.7 seconds on the clock.
Manhattan used their final timeout, and found themselves with a chance to send things to overtime. Brianna Davis received the ball out of the inbound, and hoisted a three to tie things. She missed the shot–but was fouled by Renninger in the process. The Jasper guard found herself at the charity stripe again with a chance to send the game to overtime.
Davis missed the first free throw, giving the Knights life. She knocked down the remaining two, and Manhattan stood trailing 64-63 with 1.1 seconds on the clock. Rebecca Osei-Owusu was fouled on the Knights' inbound attempt, and was sent to the free throw line with 0.8 on the clock. Osei-Owusu missed her first attempt, but made the second, putting the score at 65-63. Manhattan took a full court heave for the win at the buzzer, but came up just a few feet short, giving the Knights the nail-biting win.
- Madlena Gerke led FDU in scoring for the second straight game, dropping 21 points.
- Ava Renninger stuffed the stat-sheet for the Knights, recording 18 points, eight assists, and six rebounds.
- Renninger played all 40 minutes in the victory for FDU.
- The sophomore shot an efficient 5-8 from the field.
- Kailee McDonald lit things up from downtown, scoring 14 points with four made threes.
- McDonald also played the full 40 minutes in the win.
- Leah Crosby held things down in the frontcourt for the Knights, scoring ten points and grabbing eight boards.
- Crosby led all frontcourt players with 31 minutes played.
- The Knights and Jaspers went even in the rebounding battle, each with 34 boards.
- The Knights pulled out the win despite losing the turnover battle 17 to 14.
- The transition game was working for FDU in the win, scoring 14 fast break points.
FDU will travel to Rutgers to face their third high-major opponent of the season. The Knights and Scarlet Knights will tip off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 16. Coverage will be available on B1G+.
Connect with FDU Women's Basketball on X and Instagram, @FDUKnightsWBB.
Segovia Steakhouse is the presenting sponsor of the 2025-26 FDU women's basketball season.
