MADISON, N.J. (January 15, 2020) – FDU women's basketball returned home to the Ferguson Recreation Center for the first time in 2020, as they hosted Eastern University on Wednesday evening. The Devils came up short in a highly contested game, as the Eagles defeated FDU by a score of 74-64. FDU moves to 2-12 on the 2019-20 season, and 0-3 in the Middle Atlantic Freedom Conference. Eastern jumps to 7-7 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
The Devils saw themselves down early by a score of 12-2. Despite the strong offensive start by the Eagles, FDU did not count themselves out, as they strung together a 6-to-2 run to help close out the first quarter of the game. Freshman Jayda Bing started the series with a made jumper, then continued with the momentum, as she knocked down back-to-back free-throw attempts. Junior Helen Ishmael played active basketball on both ends of the court, as she recorded a steal off of the Eagles turnover, then made right on a layup attempt.
Due to stable shooting from beyond the three-point line, the Eagles jumped back out to a 10-point lead to open the second quarter. With 6:28 remaining, freshman Meadow Garcia drained a three-pointer, to cut the Eagles lead to seven. Back down 10, the no-quit Devils rallied together a 5-to-0 run, which was capped off with a three-pointer by freshman Angela Downey off of an assist by Garcia. After a few made Eastern baskets, senior Jennah Roman turned the pass from Garcia into another Devils three-point field goal, cutting the deficit back down to seven. The Devils used made baskets from senior Cayla Staggers and junior Francesca Shipe to go into the halftime break trailing by just four.
SECOND HALF
The Devils crept closer to the Eagles in the early stages of the third quarter, as the Eastern lead was cut to just one point after a made three-pointer from Downey off of the assist by Staggers. Staggers totaled four points for the remainder of the quarter, garnering two made field goals. Bing executed off of a three-point attempt with 20 seconds remaining in the quarter.
The game remained a back-and-forth battle, as Downey made good of another three-point attempt with 9:34 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Devils had answers for every time Eastern tried to pull away, as Roman knocked down another three-point attempt at the 6:18 mark. At 2:53, Ishmael took advantage of a trip to the charity stripe, knocking down both efforts to cut the Eagles lead to three. The Eagles offense was quick to respond, as they put together a run which helped them close out the contest and hold on for the victory.
'TAKEAWAYS'
The Devils led the Eagles in the steal category, totaling 11 steals opposed to the Eagles four. The Devils were forcing turnovers all night, as six different FDU players added a steal. Staggers led the charge with four steals, and Bing followed with three.
FRESHMAN FUNDAMENTALS
The Devils three freshman players continued to make their presence known in games this season. Bing led all Devils in points with 15 and also added six rebounds. Downey totaled nine points on three made three-point field goals, and Garcia was a perfect 1-1 from three-point territory.
FROM THE COACH
"Can't win games if you don't box out. 22 points on second chance shots. Can't win games giving that up." - Coach Melissa Brooks
UP NEXT
The Devils return to the Ferguson Recreation Center in three days, as they play host to King's College. Tipoff for the contest is scheduled for 11 AM.
