KNIGHTS FALL TO UMBC in NEC Women's Basketball
Three Knights score in double-digits in regular season finale

HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY -- Despite opening the second half on a 10-0 streak to comeback after an eight-point halftime deficit, the Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team couldn't hold onto their lead and the UMBC Retrievers took a 12-point victory, 79-67, scoring their last 10 points from the free-throw line. FDU fell into a deficit early as the Retrievers shot over 50% in the first half, outrebounding the Knights 21-12.

Down by eight points at the half (26-34), FDU got baskets from four different players on a 10-0 streak to take a 36-34 lead with 16:57 left to play. The Knights had a five point lead, 53-48, at the 11:01 mark when UMBC used seven straight points to go up by two, 55-53. UMBC came out on top after three lead changes and with 2:05 on the clock, UMBC hit a three-pointer to take a six-point lead. UMBC used the clock to its advantage as the Knights sent them to the free throw line where they hit 10-of-12, sealing a victory.

Natallia Marchanka (Rechitsa, Belarus) led all scorers with a career-high 18 points, going 7-13 from the field (4-of-7 from downtown). Melanie Prol (Sparta, NJ) and Karen Tiedemann (Fallston, MD) each scored 11 points for the Knights. Tiedemann added three rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Starting point guard Tommica Woods (Fairfax, VA) led the team in rebounding with six boards.

The Retrievers saw five players score in double-digits, led by 16 from Liz Dickey (Mountaintop, PA) and Jessie Brown (Salisbury, MD). Each tallied a double-double, Dickey adding 11 rebounds and Brown adding 10 assists.

The Knights fall to 11-16 on the season with a final Northeast Conference record of 10-8. Previously in a two-way tie for fifth, the Knights wait to see how the rest of the pack falls before knowing if the playoffs are in their future. UMBC improves to 13-13 on the season and 11-6 in the NEC. Five Knight seniors were honored prior to the start of the game. Betsy Blom, Nicole Bowman, Melanie Prol, Karen Tiedemann and Tommica Woods are all four-year players for FDU.