HACKENSACK, N.J. – #1 FDU defeated #8 Saint Francis by a score of 81-56 in the NEC Tournament Quarterfinals on Monday night. The win advances the Knights on to the 2026 Tournament NEC Semifinals.
FDU started off the game red-hot. The Knights jumped out to an 11-0 run to start the game, prompting a timeout from Saint Francis just three minutes into the game. Perimeter shooting was present early for the Knights, as Madlena Gerke and Kailee McDonald combined for three triples to engineer the early run. The buckets would continue for FDU in the first quarter, as they shot 11-of-17 from the field during the first ten minutes. The Knights held a commanding 28-11 lead after the first quarter.
Saint Francis put together a good response in the second quarter. The Red Flash shut down the Knights' three-point shooting in the second, holding FDU to a 2-of-11 mark in the second quarter. Saint Francis would out-score FDU 17-14 in the second quarter, cutting into the Knight lead as both teams went into the halftime break.
In the second half, the Knights pulled away. FDU pulled off a 12-0 run during the third quarter to grow their lead up to as many as a 26-point margin. Ava Renninger helped control things in the second half for the Knights, scoring ten points across the final twenty minutes to help ice things.
The win advances the Knights to the NEC Semifinals for the sixth-straight season. The Knights will host #5 seed Le Moyne on Thursday night.
- Ava Renninger led the Knights in scoring with a 19-point outburst.
- Renninger added six rebounds and five assists to her stat-line.
- The sophomore scored her points in efficient fashion, going 7-for-9 from the field.
- Kailee McDonald joined Renninger in double figures, scoring 15 points.
- Reese Downey had an exceptional game off the bench, scoring 13 points.
- The freshman knocked down three triples in her first career post-season game.
- Akeelah Lafleur played a big role off the bench for the Knights, scoring eight points and grabbing nine rebounds.
- The freshman also blocked four shots in the win to lead the Knights on defense.
- FDU out-rebounded Saint Francis 48-25 in the win.
FDU will face off against #5 Le Moyne in the 2026 NEC Semifinals. The Knights will host the Dolphins in Hackensack on Thursday, March 12. Tip-off will come at 7 p.m, with coverage on ESPN+ and WFDU.
Connect with FDU Women's Basketball on X and Instagram, @FDUKnightsWBB.
Greater Alliance Federal Credit Union is the official sponsor of the 2026 FDU women's basketball postseason.
