HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU women's basketball (9-4, 0-0) picked up an 85-57 victory over UMES (7-10, 0-0) on Tuesday afternoon. The victory closed out the FDU Christmas Classic, as well as the non-conference slate for the Knights.
Head coach Stephanie Gaitley's squad looked to bounce back from a 62-51 loss to Binghamton in the first game of the FDU Christmas Classic on Monday. The loss was FDU's first loss at home since February 24, 2024.
From the jump, it looked like the Knights were going to indeed bounce back. FDU led 18 to six after the first quarter of play. The Knights' defense was unbelievable in the first quarter, as UMES did not make a single shot from the field across the entirety of the frame. All six of UMES' first quarter points came off free throws.
The Knights continued their dominance into the second quarter. Across the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second, FDU went on a 20-0 run. The FDU defense also continued to completely stifle the Hawks. UMES did not hit their first shot from the field until the 3:53 mark in the second quarter, ending an eight and a half minute scoring drought.
FDU cruised into the halftime break with a 44-10 lead, and did not look back from that point on. UMES' offense started to click in the second half, but the deficit was simply too much to overcome across the final 20 minutes of action.
- Ava Renninger led the way in the victory, scoring 19 points.
- The sophomore shot an efficient 6-9 from the field with three makes from range.
- Renninger contributed five rebounds and three assists as well.
- Reese Downey had a tremendous afternoon, scoring a career-high 15 points.
- Downey knocked down four triples, also a career-high.
- The freshman added three rebounds and three assists to her stat-line.
- Kailee McDonald and Madlena Gerke each contributed with double-figures in scoring.
- McDonald dropped 13 points with two made three-pointers, as well as three steals on the defensive end.
- Gerke knocked down three triples in an 11-point afternoon.
- Freshman Akeelah Lafleur provided excellent play off the bench, scoring eight points.
- Lafleur also grabbed four rebounds and recorded two blocks, all in just 12 minutes of play.
- FDU won on the glass 34 to 29.
FDU will begin NEC play as they travel to face Mercyhurst on Friday, January 2. The Knights will stay in Pennsylvania, heading down to face Saint Francis on Sunday, January 4 before returning home to Hackensack. Coverage for both games will be available on NEC Front Row.
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.
