MADISON, NJ (March 5, 2021)- FDU Women's Basketball traveled to Dallas, PA on Friday, to take on Misericordia University in a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom matchup, falling 54-34. With the loss, the Devils fall to 0-4 overall and 0-4 in the MAC Freedom while the Cougars improve to 2-3 overall and 1-3 in conference.
 
First Quarter
After Misericordia took an early 5-1 lead just two-minute into the contest, sophomore Angela Downey knocked down her first three of the game. The Cougars would score the next four points, extending their lead to 9-4. Neither team scored a bucket until the 3:18 mark, with Devils senior, Arian Coleman hitting a layup. Mis would increase their lead to 14-6, before sophomore Jayda Bing hit her first bucket of the game with 1:10 remaining in the quarter. Bing would hit another just 40 seconds later, cutting the lead to four. The cougars hit a layup as time expired in the quarter, leading 16-10 after one.
 
Second Quarter
One-minute into the second quarter and MU hit a basket in the paint. Senior, Francesca Shipe got in on the scoring action, responding with four straight points, pulling the Devils within five, 19-14. Again, Mis had the answer, scoring the next five points to regain a double-digit lead. Shipe continued to shine, knocking down her sixth straight point to respond. After another Cougar three, Shipe continued her torrid run, hitting another in the paint. The Cougars brought the lead to 11, 29-18 with 1:45 left in the half, before Shipe completed her fantastic second quarter. MU led at the break, 29-20.
 
Francesca was the only scorer for FDU in the second quarter, scoring 10-points on 5-of-7 (71%) from the field.
 
Third Quarter
Down by nine entering the second half of play, Bing got the scoring going of the Devils in the third with a free throw and Shipe continued to roll with a bucket in the paint. Now down by six, 29-23, first-year Jade-Dee Tolentino brought the Devils closer, hitting her first three of the game.  After Mis stopped the run for FDU with a layup, Coleman hit again from inside the paint to cut the lead to three. Two more free throws from Bing brought the score to 31-30 Cougars with 3:07 left in the frame.  Misericordia extended the lead back to three, before first-year Anissa Arteaga hit her first of the game and Tolentino knocked down a two, FDU held it's first lead of the game, 34-33 at the 1:05 mark.
 
Mis found the basket with just under 30 seconds remaining in the quarter, holding a slim 35-34 lead with 10-minutes remaining in the contest.
 
Fourth Quarter
The cougars-controlled play for the fourth quarter, holding the Devils scoreless and completing the 54-34 victory.
 
Lead Devil
Shipe led all Devils, finishing the day with 12 points and seven rebounds, scoring 10 straight points in the second quarter.
 
Board Meeting
After a first-year campaign that saw Bing record 300+ rebounds, Jayda recorded her first double-digit rebound game of the year, finishing with 10 boards and eight points. She also had three assists, a block and a steal on the day.
 
From Coach
"We played really well for 3 quarters! Very proud of those 30 min. We are not conditioned for 40 min yet. And that's okay, it's just the cards we are dealt. We'll come back tomorrow and hopefully play 35-40 min. Need to get better each day." - Head Coach, Melissa Brooks
 
Next Up
The Devils return home to the Ferguson Recreation Center for the second game of this MAC Freedom back-to-back versus Misericordia. Tip-off for the game is set for 5:00 pm and can be live streamed at fdudevils.com.