WILKES-BARRE, PA. (January 18, 2019) - Senior Kayla Croswell of the FDU-Florham women's basketball team poured in a career-high 28 points, but the Devils were upended by host Wilkes University 83-78 Friday evening. 

The setback drops the Devils to 6-11 overall, and 1-5 within the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom. Wilkes improves to 6-10, 2-4 in the conference. 

The two sides traded the opening 12 points of the game before a Colonels triple put the hosts in front 12-8. Croswell converted a layup to get within two, but Wilkes used a 9-0 rally to jump in front by double figures. Senior Raven Dowling knocked down a three to stop the run, and the Devils defense limited Wilkes to just two points over the final 4:08 of the opening period. 

The hosts stretched the lead to 10 with 8:08 left in the second frame, however the Devils were able to battle back. Junior Cayla Staggers hit a layup off a fastbreak to jumpstart a 9-0 rally that brought the Devils back to within a point.  

After trading baskets, a Dowling bucket knocked the margin down to a single point, but the hosts countered with the next six points. Junior Imani Collins closed out the half with a layup as the Devils entered the break trailing by five at 36-31. 

Croswell and Dowling combined for 24 of the 31 first half points, with Croswell snaring five defensive rebounds. In just five minutes of action in the first half, Collins pulled down five boards, including three on the offensive end. 

A 14-1 spurt to open the third quarter by the Colonels saw the lead swell to 16 points before freshman Dowling canned a three for the first Devils basket of the third stanza. An 8-2 Devils rally finished by a Jennah Roman layup brought the gap down to 10, and the Devils were able to score four of the final six points of the period to get as close as 10 entering the fourth and final period. 

FDU began the fourth with six consecutive tallies, keeping Wilkes off the scoreboard for the first 2:08. After trading baskets during the middle of the period, Croswell converted a Dowling feed down low to bring the Devils back to a one possession game at 74-72. Dowling sunk a pair from the charity stripe with a shade over a minute left, but the Devils were unable to level the game. Wilkes hit five late free throws to put the game away. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Croswell, who earned MAC Freedom and Met Basketball Writers Player of the Week honors this week, tallied her seventh straight game with 10 or more points. 

• Staggers and Dowling each scored 20 points. For Dowling, the 20 points marked a career-high and the senior also converted a season-best three triples. 

• Rookie Helen Ishmael pulled down nine rebounds which were two off her season-high. 

UP NEXT 

The Devils return home Wednesday evening, hosting Manhattanville College at 8 p.m.