HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU women's basketball (6-3, 0-0) completed a come-from-behind victory over Lafayette (4-5, 0-0) on Thursday night by a score of 69-61.
The Knights started things off strong in the first quarter, taking a 20-16 lead after the first ten minutes of play.
Kailee McDonald got the offense going early, scoring nine points on three makes from downtown in the first frame.
As the second quarter filled around, Lafayette started to take control of the game and put the Knights on their heels. The Leopards ripped off a 9-0 run across four minutes to take the lead over FDU. Some sharp-shooting to end the quarter extended the Lafayette lead, and the Knights went into the halftime break trailing 38-30.
FDU, who went into the game having not lost a game at the Bogota Savings Bank Center since February 24, 2024, stood just twenty minutes from their first home loss in 649 days.
The Knights didn't want that to happen.
FDU came out inspired in the second half of play, immediately flipping the script on Lafayette. FDU took the lead back from the Leopards in the third quarter, engineering by some electric perimeter play. McDonald, Ava Renninger, and Madlena Gerke combined for four three-pointers to open the frame and take control of momentum.
McDonald in particular began to light up the Bogota Savings Bank Center. The sophomore hit another three shots from deep during the third, helping to give FDU a 55-51 lead going into the fourth and final quarter. During the fourth, McDonald connected from deep yet again, putting her total three-pointer count for the night at seven.
Reese Downey joined in on the three-point fun in the fourth quarter, hitting two to help the Knights put the game away. The Knights wound up out-scoring Lafayette 39 to 23 across the second half, cruising to their 20th straight victory at home.
- Kailee McDonald put on a show, scoring 23 points on seven made three-pointers.
- McDonald's 23 points led all scorers, and marks a new career-high for the sophomore.
- The seven threes made by McDonald are a career-high.
- Seven made three-pointers sets a new FDU record for most in a single game.
- The sophomore also grabbed seven rebounds in the win.
- Reese Downey set a career-high with 11 points.
- Downey knocked down three triples, also a career-high.
- FDU knocked down 15 three-pointers in the win, their most against a Division I opponent this season.
- The Knights shot a blistering 46.9% from deep.
- Ava Renninger converted two makes from deep.
- Downey and Madlena Gerke each knocked down three triples.
- McDonald accounted for seven of the 15 three-pointers.
- Rebecca Osei-Owusu had a marvelous night on the glass, grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds.
- 12 rebounds is the most by any Knight in a single game this season.
- FDU won both the rebounding battle (36 to 30) and the turnover battle (nine to 10).
- FDU has now won 20 straight games at the Bogota Savings Bank Center.
- FDU's last loss at home came 649 days ago on February 24, 2024 to Le Moyne.
FDU heads on the road to face their fourth New Jersey opponent of the season. The Knights will take on Saint Peter's on Wednesday, December 10. Tip-off in Jersey City will come at 7 p.m.
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.
