BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – The NEC announced the 2025-26 end of season women's basketball awards on Monday afternoon. Four Knights earned All-NEC honors, Madlena Gerke was named the NEC Defensive Player of the Year, and Stephanie Gaitley was named the Brenda Reilly NEC Coach of the Year.

The Knights were represented by sophomore guard Ava Renninger on the All-NEC First Team. Renninger earns the second All-NEC First Team honor of her career, after earning First Team honors as a freshman last season. Renninger operated as the floor general for the Knights during their impressive 27-4 campaign. The Yardley, Pa. native led the Knights in scoring with 12.2 PPG, as well as in assists with 5.2 APG. Renninger's 5.2 APG mark also led all NEC players. The sophomore's playmaking was highlighted by a career-high 12 assist performance in the Knights' win over New Haven on 2/21.

FDU's Madlena Gerke picked up major award honors, being named the NEC Defensive Player of the Year. Gerke helped anchor an FDU defense that ranked as one of the best in the nation. The Knights allowed just 51.0 PPG to opponents in 2025-26, ranking as the #2 scoring defense in the nation. Only No. 1 UConn ranked higher than the Knights. Gerke was a large part of the Knights' lockdown defense, leading FDU with 1.4 SPG. Gerke's award makes it back-to-back years in which the Knights have won NEC Defensive Player of the Year, following Teneisia Brown in 2024-25. Gerke was also named to the NEC All-Defensive Team.

Gerke also found herself a spot on the All-NEC Second Team. On the offensive end, the graduate student played a large role for the Knights. Gerke averaged 11.5 PPG on the season, the second-most on the team. She caught fire in the month of February, averaging 15.7 PPG across the month to help the Knights stay undefeated. 

Kailee McDonald saw herself have a breakout season, and was rewarded with selections to the All-NEC Second Team and NEC All-Defensive Team. The sophomore tied Renninger for the team scoring lead with 12.2 PPG. McDonald was a sharpshooter, shooting 37.5% from range on the year, ranking fifth in the conference. McDonald also shattered the FDU single-season three-pointer record, hitting 93 triples over the course of the season. On the defensive side, McDonald helped to lead the #2 defense in the nation, averaging 1.3 SPG.

Freshman Leah Crosby was named to the NEC All-Rookie team after a stellar debut campaign. Crosby started in all 31 games for the Knights as a freshman, holding down a key role in the frontcourt. The Plainfield, N.J. native averaged 7.8 PPG and 5.5 RPG during her freshman season. Crosby recorded three double-doubles during the season, highlighted by a career-high 17 point, 11 rebounds performance against Mercyhurst on February 7. 

Capping off major awards for the Knights was head coach Stephanie Gaitley, who was named the Brenda Reilly NEC Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. The Knights returned just one of five starters from the 2024-25 season heading into this past year. Despite that fact, Gaitley's Knights did not skip a beat, going undefeated in conference play for the second straight season. FDU also won the NEC regular season championship for the second season in a row. Gaitley helped coach the Knights to the #2 defense in the nation, and FDU finished the season as one of just three teams in the nation to go undefeated in conference play (UConn and UCLA). It is the third time in Gaitley's career she has been named NEC Coach of the Year, dating back to 2006-07 at LIU. 

The Knights now head into the 2026 NEC Tournament, beginning with the NEC Quarterfinal on Monday, March 9. FDU will host #8 Saint Francis in Hackensack at 7 p.m.