SYRACUSE, N.Y. – FDU women's basketball (26-3, 16-0) defeated Le Moyne on Thursday night by a score of 64-48. The game finishes the 2024-25 regular season for FDU.
With the win, FDU has successfully "run the table" and finished with an undefeated record in conference play. The Knights have become just the seventh team to do so in the history of the Northeast Conference, and the first team to do so since 2012-13 Quinnipiac.
FDU picked up the historic win behind a phenomenal night out of Lilly Parke. Parke led the way for FDU with a season-high 23 points on six makes from downtown. She led a Knights attack that struggled to get going early in the game.
The contest began in a defensive slug-fest. Through the first six minutes of play, it was just a 4-3 game in favor of Le Moyne, and the first quarter ended with a 10-6 FDU lead.
The second quarter saw the Knights figure out their shooting, particularly from deep. Freshman Kailee McDonald splashed a few from beyond the arc to help the Knights start a run. The FDU offense was kick-started from the perimeter shooting, and the Knights proceeded to out-score Le Moyne 21-11 in the second stanza.
FDU would head into the halftime break with a 31-17 lead, and did not look back. A few more makes from deep from Parke in the second half kept the offense afloat, and the Knights cruised to an easy victory.
The Knights finish with an undefeated record in conference play for the first time in program history. This season also marks the first time that head coach Stephanie Gaitley has gone undefeated in conference play. Gaitley has posted her best conference record in her 38 years of coaching.
THE STATS
- FDU was led in scoring by Lilly Parke, who scored a season-high 23 points.
- Parke converted six shots from downtown, tied for the most in a single game by a Knight this year (Ava Renninger, 2/1 vs. Mercyhurst)
- Teneisia Brown picked up a 12 point, ten rebound double-double.
- Brown ends the regular season on a nine-game double-double streak.
- Kailee McDonald had a terrific night from range for FDU.
- McDonald knocked down three triples for nine points to help the winning effort.
- FDU had one of their best shooting nights of the season, converting 12 shots from downtown.
- The Knights won the rebounding margin 36-to-31.
WHAT'S NEXT
FDU will set their sights on the 2025 NEC Tournament. The Knights have clinched the #1 seed, and will have home-court advantage throughout. The Knights will host a quarterfinal match-up on Monday, March 10. Opponent and tip-off time are still TBD. Coverage 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 2024-25 FDU Women's Basketball season.
