ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (December 19, 2018) - Junior Cayla Staggers and senior Kayla Croswell combined for 31 points to lead the FDU-Florham women's basketball team past Albright 57-53 Wednesday evening.

The Devils improve to 4-5 on the season, snapping a four-game losing skid.

Junior Jennah Roman opened the scoring with four consecutive points, and the lead swelled to seven at 11-4 after a layup by senior Raven Dowling. The Lions answered back, ending the quarter on a 8-3 run, scoring the final points on a drive in the paint from Gabby Boggs.

The Lions grabbed their first lead of the game 2:01 into the second, and extended the lead to five with 5:31 remaining in the opening stanza. The Devils responded with a 6-0 spurt to level game at 23 with just a shade under three minutes left. Albright notched six consecutive points of their own, but junior Breion Knox converted a Dowling pass for a layup to trim the deficit to three heading into the break.

Albright pushed the lead to double-digits with 2:55 left in the third quarter, but Staggers and Croswell combined for six of the next eight markers to cut the lead in half. Staggers hit an additional layup with 23 seconds left to make it a one possession game, however Albright pushed the tempo and notched the final points of the frame with eight ticks left, entering the fourth quarter with a 46-41 edge.

Despite opening with the first three points of the stanza, the Devils gave up the next five and found themselves trailing by seven with 6:43 left. Roman converted from behind the arc, before neither side was able to score over the next 90 seconds. During the dry spell, the Devils defense forced a trio of Lions turnovers.

Junior Imani Collins kick-started the game-changing 7-0 run over the final 4:02 with a free throw as Dowling hit a pair of layups to give FDU a 54-53 edge with 1:34 left. Clinging to a one point lead, Croswell extended the lead to three with a layup. Roman would hit the final free throw of the night with five seconds left to complete the fourth quarter comeback.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Staggers matched her career-high with 17 points, set during the season-opener against St. Elizabeth.
• Croswell notched her third double-double of the season, going for 14 points and 11 boards.
• Freshman Arian Coleman made her collegiate debut, playing 12 minutes with two rebounds.
• The Devils had a season-low 12 turnovers, and forced 24 turnovers, which was the second-most of the season

UP NEXT
The Devils will face Wisconsin Lutheran tomorrow at 7 p.m. to finish off the St. Petersburg Classic.