WILKES-BARRE, PA. (February 22, 2020) - On Saturday afternoon, the FDU women's basketball team rounded out its 2019-20 season with a 71-55 victory over Wilkes. The Devils concluded the season with a 7-18 overall record and 5-9 record in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play. The game signals the Devils farewell to its four graduating seniors. The group of seniors consists of Jennah Roman, Cayla Staggers, Student Manager Imani Collins, and Student Assistant Breion Knox.

THE GAME

The Devils kicked-off the afternoon, with the first basket of the game at 9:08 in the first quarter, when freshman Angela Downey executed on an assist by Roman. The Colonels strung together points to respond to the early score by the Devils, but FDU would retaliate as sophomores Helen Ishmael, and Arian Coleman, and freshman Jayda Bing all added points. Down 15-14, with 13 seconds remaining, Bing made an unassisted jump shot to give FDU a 16-15 advantage heading into the second frame.

The Devils continued the momentum that they gained from its 4-0 run to end to the first quarter by going on an 8-0 run to open the second quarter. Ishmael sparked the run with five points. As the game continued, Staggers and Bing notched a pair of field goals each, to help FDU extend its lead. As the horn sounded, FDU went into the halftime break leading Wilkes, 32-28.

Following a made layup attempt by junior Aleah Bass, the Devils saw itself in the driver seat with a ten-point lead, 50-40, with 6:02 remaining on the clock in the third quarter. With 5:12 on the clock, it was Downey from long-range again, as she connected on a three-pointer off of an assist by Bass. Ishmael continued her high volume offensive day, as she hit another layup, this time off of a pass from Bing. With 1:25 left in the quarter, freshman Meadow Garcia made her mark on the game, as she knocked down a three-pointer, to give FDU the 48-37 lead. With 10 seconds left in the quarter, Ishmael made good of her strip to the charity stripe, as she knocked down a pair of free throws to put FDU up 51-40 heading into the fourth and final frame. 

In the fourth quarter, the Devils would not let down as Bing started the scoring effort with a made layup. After a few made baskets by Wilkes, the Devils would be tasked with fending off an offensive surge by the home Colonels. Coleman responded to Wilkes by adding a three-point field goal with 4:52 left in the contest. Up by 10, FDU continued to add to its lead. At the 3:03 mark, Downey made her third three-point field goal of the game, this time off an assist by Roman, to put the Devils up 63-50. Now up 13, Roman added a three-pointer with 53 seconds until the final buzzer, to give the Devils the commanding 71-55 victory. 

THE ADVANTAGE

The Devils bested Wilkes in several categories, including rebounds, assists, blocks and points-off-turnovers. The Devils had 24 total points-off-turnovers in the contest, as Wilkes only had seven. 

LEAD DEVILS 

Staggers led a group of eight FDU point scorers, with 16 points. Ishmael was next with 13, and then Bing, who added 11. In her final collegiate game, Roman had an impressive stat line of six rebounds, three steals, and eight points. Along with her 16 points, Staggers had nine rebounds. Bing also made an impact in the post for the Devils, as she added eight rebounds. 

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

One of the Devils' bright spots this season has been the play of its newcomers. The group consisted of Bing, Downey, Garcia, and Jada Hill. Bing finished the 2019-20 campaign as the Devils top point-scorer, with 301 total points, and rebounder, with 203. Downey led all FDU players in three-pointers on the season, with 65. 

THE SENIORS

Jennah Roman

The 5-5 guard from Manchester, Conn. completes her career as a four-year standout for the Devils program. As a junior and senior, Roman made starts in every single one of the games she saw action in. During her time donning the Devils uniform, Roman added over 500 career-points. Roman also reached the 150 marker in career-assists, and 100 in career-steals. 



Cayla Staggers

Out of New Haven, Conn., Staggers saw time in each of her four seasons at FDU. Staggers tallied over 750 career-points, and surpassed 100 in steals and assists. This afternoon against Wilkes, Staggers played in her 100 collegiate games with the FDU program. 





Imani Collins

From Jersey City, N.J., Collins appeared in games in each of her three seasons as an active player for the Devils. In the 2018-19 season, Collins corralled 10 plus rebounds in three different games.                                                                     






Breion Knox

From West Haven, Conn, Knox made her presence known during her three seasons as an active player for FDU. Knox completed the 2018-19 season averaging 5.2 points-per-game, and 3.2 rebounds-per-game.  





COACHES THOUGHTS

"The girls played hard and for one another. Everyone stepped up and did their job and I couldn't be more proud of them." - Head Coach Melissa Brooks