03/15/26 01:42:00
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03/15 13:37 CDT Fairleigh Dickinson women beat Long Island 79-57 to win NEC
Tournament, earn spot in NCAA Tournament
Fairleigh Dickinson women beat Long Island 79-57 to win NEC Tournament, earn
spot in NCAA Tournament
HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) --- Akeelah Lafleur had 15 points off the bench, Leah
Crosby and Ava Renninger posted double-doubles and top seed Fairleigh Dickinson
beat Long Island University 79-57 on Sunday to win the NEC Tournament and earn
a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Fairleigh Dickinson (30-4) will bring a 22-game winning streak into the NCAA's
main event. The Knights made the field for the first time last season under
third-year coach Stephanie Gaitley.
Lafleur sank 6 of 8 shots, including 3 of 3 from 3-point range for FDU. Crosby
finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Renninger totaled 13 points, 10
rebounds and six assists. Reserves Bella Toomey and Reese Downey both scored 12
with Downey connecting on 4 of 5 shots from beyond the arc. Kailee McDonald
scored 11.
Kadidia Toure finished with 28 points and nine rebounds to pace the
third-seeded Sharks (21-11) under first-year coach Neil Harrow. Hannah Humphrey
made three 3-pointers and scored 12. Long Island's only NCAA Tournament
appearance came in 2001.
Toure had six points in the first 4:27 to help Long Island jump out to an 8-2
lead. Crosby scored five and McDonald hit a 3-pointer in a 10-0 run from there
and Fairleigh Dickinson led 12-8 after one quarter.
Renninger and Downey sank 3-pointers to begin the second period, upping the run
to 16-0 for a 10-point advantage that grew to 38-22 at halftime.
The Sharks hung with the Knights in the third quarter until Reese Downey hit a
3-pointer with nine seconds left for a 56-37 lead.
FDU's bench outscored Long Island's 13-0 in the first half and 28-5 in the
second.
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