ST. DAVIDS, Pa. (January 9, 2019) - The FDU-Florham women's basketball team earned its first Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom victory with an 86-77 triumph over Eastern University Wednesday evening
 
The Devils improve to 6-8 overall, 1-2 within the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom. The Eagles fall to 5-9..
 
FDU stormed out of the gates, scoring first six points while forcing a pair of turnovers. The Eagles responded with eight of their own, before senior Raven Dowling ended the run with a layup. The hosts took the lead on a three-pointer, but a jumper by senior Kayla Croswell with eight seconds leveled the score at 20.
 
The Eagles re-established the three point lead with 6:22 left in the period, but junior Breion Knox converted layups on consecutive possessions to push the Devils back in front 34-33. The second layup helped the Devils end the second quarter with 14-2 spurt, led by three baskets from Croswell and Staggers.
 
The Devils shot a blistering 53.7% from the field, and forced 17 turnovers. The team also notched 19 points off those turnovers, and poured in 34 points in the paint over the first 20 minutes.
 
The teams traded the first eight points of the third quarter before Staggers notched four consecutive points. Junior Jennah Roman knocked down a jump shot with 2:40 left in the period which extended the Devils lead to a game-high 17 points. Eastern got within 11 after a jumper with 1:10 left, but freshman Arian Coleman tallied the final points of the stanza with a jumper off a feed from Dowling.
 
With the Devils leading by 13 at 71-58, Eastern went on an 8-1 run capped off with triple that made it a two possession affair with just 4:37 left. The Devils reeled off seven consecutive points to stretch the lead back to double-digits. The Eagles would get as close as five with 29 seconds remaining, but Croswell sealed the game with four free throws.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Croswell led the way with 24 points and five steals. Both were one off of her previous career-best in each category.
• Staggers set a career-high with 22 points, and has scored in double-figures in each of her last seven contests.
• Coleman contributed eight points and five rebounds in 17 minutes of action.
• The 86 points were the most scored in a game this season, while they matched the season-high with 35 field goals.
• Roman scored 13 points while shooting 50% from the field.
• FDU held a 50-38 edge in points in the paint, and scored 22 points off turnovers.

 
UP NEXT
The Devils continue on the road trip, taking on King's College Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.