NEW BRITAIN, CONN. – FDU women's basketball (22-4, 13-0) picked up a 77-36 win over CCSU (0-24, 0-13) on Saturday afternoon.
The Knights were in the driver's seat from the jump. FDU jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead across the first three and a half minutes of the game, prompting a quick CCSU timeout. Madlena Gerke was cooking early, knocking down three triples in the first quarter to lead the Knights.
FDU kept their foot on the gas pedal the rest of the first quarter, out-scoring CCSU 22-5 in the frame. The Blue Devils made just one field goal across the entirety of the quarter.
The stellar defense continued for the Knights into the second quarter. FDU held CCSU to just nine points in the second stanza. The Knights were able to march into the halftime break with a 39-14 lead.
The third quarter saw the Knights put the game away for good, behind some stellar perimeter shooting. FDU converted five triples on ten attempts in the third, as they poured in a 24-point quarter. With a 37 point lead heading into the final ten minutes of regulation, head coach Stephanie Gaitley was able to give her starters some rest as FDU wrapped up a big victory.
- Madlena Gerke led the scoring effort for FDU, dropping 18 points on six threes.
- Her six made three-pointers tie a season-high (11/19 vs. Delaware State)
- The graduate student also picked up three rebounds and three assists in the win.
- As a team, the Knights lit up the three-point arc, with 14 made threes as a team.
- The 14 threes mark the most for FDU against an NEC opponent this season.
- Six different Knights got in on the fun and converted a make from deep.
- Leah Crosby followed up her NEC Rookie of the Week campaign with a 13-point performance.
- Crosby shot 5-6 from the field, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded a block and steal.
- Kailee McDonald also reached double figures, scoring 11 points.
- McDonald contributed two three-pointers to the Knights' team total.
- The sophomore also recorded two steals and grabbed five rebounds in 26 minutes of play.
- Ava Renninger stuffed the stat-sheet, recording seven points, seven assists, and eight rebounds.
- Joi Johnson logged a career-high 18 minutes, and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds.
- The Knights moved the ball exceptionally well, recording an assist on 21 of their 26 makes from the field.
- FDU dominated CCSU on the glass, out-rebounding the Blue Devils 48 to 22.
FDU returns home to face Chicago State on Thursday, February 19. Tip-off in Hackensack will come at 7 p.m. Coverage will be available on NEC Front Row and WFDU.
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.
