The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team fell, 67-58, at the University of Denver, Sunday, Dec. 31. Junior forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD/Westminster) (Westminster, MD) paced the Knights (3-8, 0-1 NEC) with her fourth double-double of the season, recording 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Senior guard Gayle Coats (Richmond, VA/Gertrude) (Richmond, VA) contributed a career-high and game-high 14 points, while junior guard Shanay Freeman (Laurelton, NY/Towsend Harris) (Laurelton, NY) tallied 13 points.
Walkling tied the contest, 2-2, hitting the offensive glass for a rip and a bucket. Freshman forward Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) (Bayonne, NJ) flashed up top to pop a jumper, shifting FDU ahead, 4-2, with 17:14 remaining.
Freeman spotted up for a trey from straight-on, knotting the game, 8-8. Less than three minutes later, she drove the lane and knocked down a runner, on her way to scoring the team's sixth-straight point and creating a 10-10 tie.
Coats splashed a three-ball at the 11:08 mark, moving the Knights out in front 13-12. However, the Pioneers went on a 9-2 run before freshman guard Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) (Avalon, NJ) nailed a jumper from the left baseline with 5:14 remaining, drawing Fairleigh Dickinson to a 21-17 deficit.
Denver (6-5, 1-0 Sun Belt) took a 29-24 lead into halftime, led by nine points from forward Sara Benham (Muleshoe, TX). Freeman collected eight points at the break, while Walkling notched seven boards.
The Knights opened the second-half on a 6-1 run ? part of a 10-1 spurt carrying over from the initial 20 minutes. Freeman hit a jumper, followed by drop-step lay-ins courtesy of Altamirano and Walkling, knotting the contest, 30-30, with 16:55 remaining.
Coats converted an off-balance leaner as the shot clock expired and Walkling finished off a transition deuce, and FDU trailed, 35-34, with 15:34 left. Junior guard Megan Kirkland (Glen Allen, VA/Hermitage) (Glen Allen, VA) connected form long-range, keeping the Knights within striking distance, 38-37.
Kirkland drove the length of the floor and dished to Walkling down low, followed by two free throws by Coats. The senior banged a triple at the 6:25 mark, creating a one possession game, 49-46.
Kirkland popped another three-pointer from the right wing then Fairleigh Dickinson hauled down back-to-back-to-back offensive rebounds, to trail 53-51 with a shade less than five minutes remaining.
Denver rattled off an 8-0 run, to seal the game. Benham and guard Jenna Cole (Lincoln, NE) finished a game-high 14 points a piece.
"We bounced back well after a disappointing loss at Northern Colorado," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "We had too many turnovers and didn't make our shots at the foul line ? that was the difference. In the end, there's a lot of good things we can take from this road trip."
The Knights host Wagner College ? the team's home debut in Northeast Conference play ? at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 6.
