Madison, NJ (February 8) FDU-Florham Women's Basketball returned to Roger Kindel Court to celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day by taking on DeSales. Although the battle was very close, FDU fell by a score of 70-61.

FDU-Florham (7-14, 4-6 MAC Freedom) was led by Bianca Sode (Kenilworth, NJ), who scored 20 points and secured four blocked shots.

DeSales's (13-8, 4-6 MAC Freedom) best player on the court was Mikaili Donmoyer who scored 25 points.
 
The first quarter saw back-and-forward action from both teams. DeSales went up 4-0, before FDU took the lead 7-4 with Christina Centeno (Bayonne, NJ) hitting a three-pointer, and Kolby Lynch (Morristown, NJ) hitting a jumper and a tip-in. DeSales scored, but Lynch responded right back with a jumper. A jumper from DeSales was answered by Sode, and a layup was once again responded to by Lynch. The Bulldogs hit a three to tie it, but Sode answered again with a jumper. DeSales took the lead 17-15, but Lynch hit a layup for the final points of the quarter. At the end of ten minutes played, the game was tied by a score of 17-17.

The Bulldogs started the second quarter with three, but Lynch was right there with the layup. FDU went back on top with a deep jumper from Kristen Mellon (Southampton, NJ). DeSales shortly took back the lead, but a jumper from DeSales and a three-pointer from Julia Vazquez (Bound Brook, NJ) gave the Devils a four-point lead. A three from DeSales was answered by a three from Shannon Tighe (Wayne, NJ). A shot and free throw was hit for DeSales, but Lynch struck again on a layup. The next few possessions were traded, with Sode and Tighe hitting shots for FDU. Back-to-back baskets from Sode to close out the quarter gave FDU a six-point lead, and at halftime, FDU held a 37-31 advantage.

DeSales chipped into that lead to start the third quarter, scoring four straight points. FDU would not back down, and a layup from Vazquez and free throws from Sode would bring the lead right back to six. The Bulldogs would not go away though, as they went on a 7-2 scoring run to bring FDU's lead down to one, with the lone points coming from Tighe. Vazquez hit a jumper, but the Bulldogs took the lead with five straight points. The Devils responded with seven straight points, with shots coming from Sode, Centeno, and Gabrielle Walker (Old Bridge, NJ). DeSales would score four straight points to close the quarter, and with ten minutes left, the Devils had a one-point lead, with the score being 52-51.

DeSales carried that momentum heading into the fourth quarter, scoring nine straight points before Lynch put a stop to it. Free throws from the Bulldogs were responded to by Sode, and baskets by Vazquez, Sode, and Centeno made it only a one-point lead for the Bulldogs. Unfortunately, all eight points left were scored by DeSales, and they went on to win a close battle by a score of 70-61.

FDU-Florham shot 42.6% (26-61) from the floor, 21.4% (3-14) from three-point range, and 60.0% (6-10) from the free throw line, while DeSales shot 37.3% (25-67) from the floor, 34.8% (8-23) from three-point range and 60.0% (12-20) from the free throw line.

FDU scored more on turnovers (15-14) and points in the paint (30-26), while DeSales scored more on second chance points (14-12), bench points (7-3), and fast break points (9-6).

The Devils will remain at home to celebrate Black History month against Lebanon Valley on February 12^th. Tip-Off will be at 7:00 PM.

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