Knights Hold Off Long Island, 73-66

HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY ­ The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights opened with a 21-7 run over the first twelve minutes, including eight points each from Natallia Marchanka and Karen Tiedemann . FDU shutdown the Long Island Blackbirds' offense from 12:58 until 6:49 and would allow just two more field goals before going into halftime with a 19 point lead, 34-15. LIU slowly chipped away at the Knights' lead.

Down by 17 (38-55), the Blackbirds went on a 12-3 run to get within eight points, 50-58 with 4:21 to go in the game. The Knights managed to hold on despite two consecutive treys from the Blackbirds within just 21 seconds to close the margin to five points, 71-66, with seven seconds remaining. The Blackbirds outscored the Knights 51-38 in the second half. Missing all six three-point attempts in the first, LIU went 7-of-12 from behind the arc in the second half. They struggled from the free throw line however, connecting on just 13 of 27 for the game.

Tiedemann led the Knights in scoring for the 11th time, this time with 22 points. She added seven rebounds and three steals in a complete 40 minutes. Marchanka finished with 11 points (including 3-of-5 from downtown), four assists and three steals. Nevin Caple scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds. Melanie Prol tallied eight points, three assists, three steals and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Kim Mac Millan , who was kept to just two points in the first half, scorched the Knights in the second, hitting 5-of-6 three-pointers on the way to a team-high 22 total points. Tamika Dudley tallied her sixth consecutive double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Angelika Stec (Stalowa, Poland) scored nine points and dished out eight assists.

The Long Island Blackbirds fall to 10-12 on the season, 8-5 in the NEC. FDU improves to 8-14 overall, 7-6 in the NEC.