MADISON, N.J. (March 2, 2017) – The FDU women's basketball team is gearing up for the NCAA Tournament, which begins Friday evening.

FIRST & SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE
In the first game, Messiah and Babson will square off at 5 p.m. Friday evening, while FDU will do battle with Gwynedd Mercy at 7 p.m. The two winners will advance to Saturday's Second Round at 5 p.m. All games will be played at the Ferguson Recreation Center on the FDU-Florham Campus.
 
GWYNEDD REPORT
Gwynedd Mercy is making their eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2012. Senior Charlotte Kucowski was named First Team All-CSAC after averaging 16.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per game and led the team with 48 blocks, 67 steals and 61 three-pointers. The Griffins are riding a nine winning streak, including topping four-time defending champion Cabrini in the conference championship.
 
MESSIAH MUSINGS
Messiah is making their 17^th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and have advanced to the Sweet 16 on four occasions including a pair of National Runner-Up finishes. Falcons Head Coach Mike Miller needs four wins to become the 32^nd head coach in women's basketball history to record 600 career wins. Senior Gillian Glackin was named First Team All MAC Commonwealth after leading the club with points, rebounds and field goal percentage.
 
BABSON BLOG
The Beavers have made the NCAA Tournament in seven of the last nine years, and are led by senior Giovanna Pickering. Pickering was the NEWMAC Player of the Year after averaging 19.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game this season. Classmates Jennifer Narlee and Taylor Russell each claimed Second Team All-NEWMAC honors, with Narlee grabbing 11.0 rebounds per game this year. Head Coach Judy Blinstrub picked her 600^th win back on February 8, and is the seventh active Division III coach to reach the milestone.
 
DEVILS RECAP
Senior Rachel Groom was named MAC Freedom Tournament Most Outstanding Player after totaling 18 points and 10 rebounds in the MAC Freedom Championship game against DeSales. Freshman Kendrea Williams was named MAC Freedom Rookie of the Year after averaging 20.0 points per game
 
TRIPLE-DOUBLE ALERT
Senior Alyssa McDonough tallied just the second triple-double in program history on February 18, as she scored 15 points, 13 rebound and 10 assists on Senior Day.
 
RECORD-BREAKING
Williams broke one FDU program record and tied another during her first year here on campus. With seven three-pointers against Catholic December 30, Williams tied the school-mark for most three-pointers made in a single game. With her last trey against DeSales, the freshman set a new single-season mark of 71 three-pointers made and counting.
 
TURN THEM OVER
The Devils as a unit have forced 585 turnovers on the season, led by sophomore Raven Dowling's 71 steals
 
MITCHELL'S THOUGHTS
"We know we have a lot to prove," said FDU Head Coach Marc Mitchell. "But we are up for the challenge."
 
CAN'T MAKE IT
Live stats and video will be available on fdudevils.com.