The Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights Women’s Basketball Team (28-3) clinched their first NCAA Tournament berth in program history with a convincing 90-61 win over the Chicago State Cougars (7-26) at Bogota Savings Bank Center in Hackensack, New Jersey.
The team’s strategy was evident from the start. “We came out so quickly out of the gates that we put Chicago State on their heels in the beginning,” FDU WBB Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley explained. “It was important for us to jump out quickly. It was important we established ourselves on offense and rebounding.” This early dominance set the tone for the rest of the game.
“In all my years coaching I have never been so anxious the last couple of days knowing we could punch our ticket because it’s been such an incredible group of kids and so much fun to be with every day and we have one more.”
Graduate student Teneisia Brown continued her impressive form, registering her 11th straight double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Junior forward Lilly Parke also had a standout game, amassing 21 points. Graduate student Abby Babore and freshman guard Ava Renninger made significant contributions, with Babore posting 18 points and Renninger totaling 11. Freshman guard Kailee McDonald added 10 points to the team’s total.
“This group is special, and we love each other and just means a lot,” Brown described. “We wanted to treat this like a final, and if we win, it sets us up for the tournament. In the back of our heads, we got one more, and we sealed everything for us, and we want it all.”
“We’re an unselfish group so sharing the ball and we believe in each other’s confidence. Having everyone able to score is a big plus for us, and unselfishness is a big plus for us, making it even better.”
“With all the seniors coming back they wanted to come back and get a chip,” Lilly Parke noted. “Still in the back of and knowing how hard we worked to get here and made so many records, and the ultimate goal is to go dancing.”
“It means everything. Like the coach said, this is a special group, and it just so happens we have to do this at home,” Abby Babore remarked. “This year is a complete turnaround from last year and everyone is buying in, the coach and the rest of the staff are preaching and wanting to do it for each other. Coach (Stephanie Gaitley) gets us ready regardless of the opponent and record and once we step across those lines we think we can compete and beat anyone and that mentality will help us in the NEC Tournament which we have been proving so far as well as the NCAA Tournament and give everyone our best shot.”
FDU shot an impressive 51 percent from the field, making 14 three-pointers and hitting 14 out of 19 free throws.
The Knights raced out of the gates in the first quarter by jumping to a 14-4 advantage. Lilly Parke led the charge with seven points, while Brown netted four.
FDU kept the pressure up as the quarter progressed by attacking the basket, which resulted in dominating points in the paint 12-4. On the perimeter, the Knights sizzled from behind the arc, burying four trifectas, with Abby Babore sinking two of them, leading to a 28-10 lead at the end of the period.
“Anyone can do that on a given night and it’s just the confidence the coaching staff has in our players, and we have in each other,” Abby Babore cited. “Every time one of our teammates shoots a three we think it’s going in and it’s just not one person carrying the load.”
In the second quarter, FDU cranked up the intensity, shooting 54 percent from the field and hitting two additional triples. Teneisia Brown (14 points) and Lilly Park (13 points) reached double figures, and the Knights held a commanding 54-29 lead at halftime.
The Knights, feeding off the momentum from the first half, didn’t step off the gas pedal. They drained six treys in the second and 10 of 13 from the charity stripe line.
FDU’s relentless defense wreaked havoc, causing Chicago State to commit 15 turnovers, which led to a one-sided margin in points off turnovers of 25-6.
The number one seed Knights host the second seed Stonehill Skyhawks (17-14) in the NEC Tournament Championship Game on Sunday, with tip-off set for noon at Bogota Savings Bank Center. Stonehill defeated LeMoyne 60-41 in the semifinals.
“We got Stonehill coming in and they four kids on the all-conference team and we have two so it’s a difference and we want to prove we’re the best team and that’s the goal,” Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley mentioned.
