Danielle Leguillou and Head Coach Marc Mitchell Postgame Interview
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – For the fourth straight season, the Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham women's basketball team is off to the NCAA Tournament, following its 69-44 victory over DeSales University in the MAC Freedom Championship at Billera Hall on Saturday.
Thanks to a dominant second-half performance, the Devils claimed their fourth conference title in a row. FDU-Florham (21-6) exploded out of the locker room and outscored the Bulldogs (20-7) 20-8 in the third quarter, including the first 12 points of the second half. The team's lead eventually grew as large as 27 points (59-32) in the fourth quarter before the final horn sounded.
All-MAC Freedom First Team forward Shalette Brown posted her nation-leading 23rd double-double of the season with 15 points and 21 rebounds in the win on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting performance. Brown was named MAC Freedom Tournament Most Outstanding Player following the victory.
Sophomore guard Danielle Leguillou had a monster second half and poured in 15 of her game-high 17 points in the final stanza. The second-year guard took care of business at the free throw line with a 7-7 performance as the Devils closed out the game 17-of-19 as a team at the line in the second half. The team's 82.8 percent performance at the charity stripe was their best of the season.
The Devils received contributions throughout the lineup as four of the team's five starters tallied double figures.
The championship got off to a rocky start as each team exchanged turnovers before McDonough broke through with the Devils' first hoop with a pretty stop-and-go driving layup.
Both teams struggled to find the touch in the first quarter as the Devils knocked down 5-of-18 (27.8%), while the Bulldogs made 4-of-12 (33.3%) shots. Through one period of action the Devils held a slim 13-12 edge with four points apiece from Brown and Alyssa McDonough.
Tied at 17-17 with 6:43 to go in the opening stanza, FDU-Florham closed the half strong with a 12-4 run, including the final seven points. Brown knocked down a jumper and dropped in a layup before freshman guard Raven Dowling banked in a 3-pointer with nine seconds to go and FDU-Florham carried a 28-21 advantage into the locker room.
Over the course of the opening half, the Devils defense did an excellent job of containing the Bulldogs' leading scorer Morgan McCollian and prevented the junior center from scoring her first basket until the 3:02 mark of the second period. Although that served as McCollian's only hoop through 20 minutes, DeSales received a spark off of the bench from junior guard Megan Baird, who chipped in a team-high eight points. Baird was the lone Bulldog to score in double figures and finished with 11 points on the afternoon. In total, the Devils connected on 42.9 percent of their first-half shots, while limiting the Bulldogs to 29 percent shooting.
Brown led the way for FDU-Florham with eight points and seven boards at the break, while freshman forward Fernanda Reyes contributed with a pair of treys for six first-half tallies.
FDU-Florham continued its first-half momentum right into the third quarter with eight quick points over the first 1:27 of action. Brown stroked an elbow jumper, then, Leguillou scored six straight points with a 3-pointer and a three-point play for a 36-21 Devils' lead.
The run continued with FDU-Florham registering the first 12 points of the stanza, which ballooned the lead to 40-21 at the 6:01 mark.
The Devils relentlessly attacked the basket throughout the period, resulting in eight third-quarter free throws. After just two points in the first half, Leguillou ignited the Devils with nine third-quarter points and FDU-Florham led 48-29 entering the fourth.
Dowling kept things rolling for the Devils with a three-point play to begin the fourth quarter before burying a contested, step-back jumper. On the ensuing possession, Leguillou nabbed a steal and converted the fast break for a 55-32 Devils' lead with 7:34 to play in regulation.
The Devils remained in control for the duration of the fourth quarter and closed out the victory.
FDU-Florham will now await Monday's NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Selection Show at 2:30 p.m. on NCAA.com to find out its first round opponent.
