The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights Women’s Basketball Team(27-3) extended their winning streak to 20 games in a dominating 73-44 victory over the Long Island University Sharks(6-24) in the Northeast Conference Tournament Quarterfinals at Bogota Savings Bank in Hackensack, New Jersey.
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This victory continues the team’s outstanding regular season performance, during which they secured an impressive 27 wins and only three losses.
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Graduate forward/center Teneisia Brown, recently named the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, was honored before tip-off. She recorded her tenth straight double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds.
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“T(Teneisia Brown) established herself early, defensively we were not as sharp in the first half as we were in the second half and then our shots started to drop and our defense became our offense, FDU Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley explained.” “Overall, I say it was a terrific effort.”
“My biggest thing is if you play defense you’re going to be in every game and if you play defense and shoot well, you’re going to win in double figures.” “We shot 52 percent from the field and outrebounded them so obviously it was super effort.”
Teneisia Brown said about her offensive performance, “It was just going with the flow of the game, knowing what I’m capable of, and being confident.”
Despite LIU’s strategy of slowing down the game, FDU showed resilience and managed to control points in the paint, leading 11-8 with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Teneisia Brown’s three-point play with a putback shot off the glass in the paint marked her ninth game point, a testament to the team’s determination.
Brown was a force to be reckoned with in the paint and low post as she relentlessly drove to the basket and reached double digits in points with 11, putting the Knights up 13-8 with less than four minutes left in the first quarter.
After the Sharks trimmed the advantage to 13-11 on a trifecta, the Knights answered with a 6-0 spurt to close out the quarter, highlighted by Teneisia Brown converting her second three-point play of the game, which increased her total to 14.
LIU remained within striking distance at five points, but FDU, just as they did in the first quarter, closed out the first half on a strong note to extend their advantage to 33-22.
Teneisia Brown totaled 18 points while the Knights dominated points in the paint 16-4 and points off turnovers 15-0.
Once the second half got underway, FDU widened the margin to 38-25 with seven minutes to go in the third period. Ava Renninger, Abaigeal Babore, and Lilly Park provided a spark for the Knights in the quarter, accounting for nine points that provided a significant spark.
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The Sharks responded with a quick 5-0 burst to narrow the gap to single digits.
The Knights’ offense caught fire in the third quarter, ending the period with a 10-0 blitz. They consistently drove to the rim for layups, increasing their totals in points off turnovers to 17-1 and points in the paint to 22-4, a display of their offensive prowess.
In the fourth quarter, the Knights blew the game wide open with a 16-0 run over four minutes. This shared success allowed FDU to empty the bench as ten players got on the scoresheet, highlighting the team’s unity and collective effort.
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“We have proven we are the best team and need to continue the way we have been playing,” FDU Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley noted. “The last couple of weeks the defense has been so on the money, and I felt right where we needed to be to get the title.” “The big thing we talk about is one day at time, be where your feet are and today our big thing as win five minutes at a time and battles and we have to attack it.”
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The number one seed Knights return to the hardwood on Thursday, March 13th, hosting the sixth seed Chicago State Cougars(7-25). This game is crucial in the team’s journey towards the title. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Bogota Savings Bank Center.
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“We never played our best games against them and we’re due to play our best game,” Gaitley stated.
