PISCATAWAY, N.J. – FDU women's basketball (2-3, 0-0) dropped a 59-49 contest to Rutgers (4-1, 0-0) on Sunday afternoon.
The Knights came out of the gate firing, leading for almost the entirety of the first quarter of play. Five different Knights got on the scoresheet in the first quarter to help the Knights get ahead. FDU's defense was lockdown in the first quarter. The Knights held Rutgers to just two made field goals across the first ten minutes of action.
Six points by Madlena Gerke in the second quarter helped the Knights retain the lead, but Rutgers was able to jump back in front at the end of the frame. Zachara Perkins knocked down a jumper with under a minute left to give Rutgers a 27-26 lead heading into halftime.
Rutgers out-scored the FDU 12 to nine in the third quarter to build their lead further. As the fourth quarter came around, FDU stood facing a 39-35 deficit.
FDU came out swinging to start the fourth. Ava Renninger led the charge, scoring 11 straight points to open the quarter, helping the Knights remain in the game. Following Renninger's third three-pointer of the quarter, the two sides stood tied at 46 apiece with four minutes to go in regulation.
From that point on, Rutgers' offense woke up, and took control of the game. The Scarlet Knights closed the game on a 13-3 run, stifling the Knights' offense down the stretch. Rutgers' Kaylah Ivey helped close the game out, scoring seven points down the stretch to put the game away for the home squad.
- Ava Renninger led the way for FDU in the loss, scoring 20 points.
- 11 of Renninger's points came across the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. Renninger was the only Knight to touch the scoring column during that span.
- The sophomore shot 7-13 from the field, and had four makes from downtown.
- Kailee McDonald stuffed the statsheet in the loss, scoring six points, grabbing ten rebounds, dishing five assists, and picking up three steals.
- Six of McDonald's rebounds came on the offensive glass, a game-high.
- FDU and Rutgers were even in the turnover battle, each giving the ball up 17 times.
- Rutgers out-rebounded FDU 42 to 33.
FDU will return home to the Bogota Savings Bank Center on Wednesday, November 19. The Knights will host Delaware State at 7 p.m. Coverage will be available on the YES Network and the Gotham Sports App.
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.
