The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's team was defeated, 71-47, Tuesday, Dec. 30, on the campus of St. Bonaventure University at the Reilly Center in Olean, NY. The Knights slipped to 2-7 overall, despite a 16-point, second half eruption by junior forward Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne).
Altamirano poured in 20 points ? matching her season-high output ? amidst connecting on a team single game-high four trifectas. All four three-pointers came in the second stanza. Guard Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) added 13 points, marking the fifth-consecutive contest the freshman notched double figures in the scoring column.
Sophomore guard Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) grabbed a game-best 10 rebounds. Senior center Shenika Chang (New York, NY/Park West) logged 20 minutes during her first action of the season, and hit the glass four times.
The Bonnies were paced by a game-high 19 points by junior forward Dana Mitchell, en route to notching their ninth victory of the year, versus four losses. St. Bonaventure shot 55% in the second stanza, tallying 43 points in the period.
Altamirano scored the afternoon's first bucket and later struck in transition, following a steal by junior guard Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit). After a 4-0 FDU start, Sykes stuck a pair from the line with 14:50 left ? good for an 8-5 advantage.
A string of nine unanswered points by St. Bonaventure gave the home-standing squad a six-point lead. Laury went window to end a field goal drought of 7:22. However, six-straight courtesy of Bonnies' senior forward Erica Schieffen extended SBU's margin to 17-10.
Laury corralled an outlet pass and converted an easy lay-in. Sykes crossed up her defender on the right wing then stepped back to pop a trey, as the Knights sliced the deficit to 17-15 at the 6:45 mark. Fairleigh Dickinson would regain the lead ? capping a 9-0 surge ? via a runner by Laury, and penetration and dish to the rookie from Sykes.
A 9-1 rebuttal to conclude the initial 20 minutes allowed for St. Bonaventure to go ahead, 28-22, at the break. The Bonnies cashed in at the charity stripe 11 times. Junior forward Dana Mitchell scored 10 points, while SBU out-rebounded the Knights by six. Laury countered with nine points, with Mayrose snatching seven boards.
“I thought we played a really good first half and had a strong start to the second (half), cutting the lead to three,” Head Coach Peter Cinella said. “St. Bonaventure showed why they are a very good team and we played with them for 25 minutes ? we just need to get used to a 40-minute effort. Mariyah played well in the first half then Christy picked it up in the second and shot the ball well.”
Freshman center Esther Wallace (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) opened the second half by taking a charge, followed by Mayrose spotting up from downtown at the other end. Yet, St. Bonaventure continued to get to the line, en route to collecting a double-digit lead.
Altamirano canned a three-ball to make it a 42-32 count with 12:55 left. Schieffen responded with an effort from long range of her own, sparking a 7-0 spurt. Schieffen finished with 12 points and a trio of three's.
Another three-pointer by Altamirano and a mid-range J sliced it to a 12-point hole. FDU's team captain accounted to 10-consecutive Fairleigh Dickinson points at the time, and ultimately 16 in a row.
Nine student-athletes scored for St. Bonaventure. FDU was out-rebounded, 41-33. The Bonnies notched 18 points on free throws, while Cinella's squad was kept off the line for the entire second half.
On Saturday, Jan. 3, the Knights return home to the Rothman Center for their first action in Hackensack, NJ since Nov. 21. Fairleigh Dickinson takes on Quinnipiac University at 4:30 p.m. ? the first contest of a women's and men's Northeast Conference doubleheader.
