JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The victory was the third straight. The season started with seven straight losses. Through it all, the attitude and enthusiasm never wavered. FDU defeated St. Peter’s 77-71 Saturday at Yanitelli Center.
Admittedly, FDU players and coaches had an extra bounce in their step following this win. Getting a few days off to spend Christmas with family and friends was a primary reason. Winning, though, will also put one in a great mood.
“I”m super happy for the girls,” FDU coach Ang Szumilo said following the victory. “They have been working so hard.” Szumilo, a former Fordham assistant, said one of the first things she had to do coming on board this season was teaching the team how to win. “One of the ways you learn how to win is by winning,” she said. “You learn to win by experiencing winning.”
FDU showed they are learning those lessons. They also showed great resilience. St. Peter’s came out firing, finding the range from beyond the arc. Four minutes into the game, the visiting Knights were looking at a double-digit deficit – on the road, no less. They never panicked.
During halftime Szumilo emphasized defense. “I challenged each and every one to execute their defensive assignment to the best of their ability,” the FDU coach said. “We didn’t play well offensively the first half and we were right there. I knew it was a case of stepping it up on defense. Our offense would come around eventually.” It did. The Knights opened the second half outscoring St. Peter’s 13-6 over the first four minutes, expanding the one-point halftime lead to eight.
The defense did have difficulty keeping Taiah Thonton (19 points) and Gabrielle Harris (15 points) out of the lane. Coach Marc Mitchell had St. Peter’s in more of an attack the basket mindset the second half. FDU did get those necessary stops. The Knights also grabbed fifteen offensive boards, offsetting a 26-turnover performance.
Madison Stanley led the Knights with a game-high 20 points, and Lauren Francillon was outstanding on the blocks. With Zoe Pero of St. Peter’s injured, FDU took advantage of the size differential inside. Francillon, a 6’1” senior center, showed a variety of post moves and outstanding footwork on the blocks. She finished with 17 points. “Lauren has gained so much confidence,” Szumilo said. “She is confident and her teammates are confident to get her the ball.”
Learning how to win was evident in the final period. FDU had what seemed like a comfortable ten-point lead. St. Peter’s hit a few three-pointers to make things tense. A little over a month ago, FDU enjoyed a nine-point lead with 1:40 to play against Manhattan. In the stretch, they failed to close it out, dropping a two-point heart-breaker in the final seconds. On this afternoon, the Knights showed more poise, handling defensive pressure, and patience in sealing the verdict.
December will close out with a visit to UMass-Lowell. Northeast Conference play begins right after the new year, January 2, with a visit to St. Francis Brooklyn. Szumilo believes Robert Morris and Saint Francis U are arguably the top two teams in the league. After that, you have a group that is relatively close, forming a very balanced league. Szumilo feels that bodes well for her team. A lot of those meetings with teams in that group will be decided by who executes and plays hard. The Knights are working on the former and do show an admirable trait of the latter.
For now, the Knights (3-7) will enjoy the holiday before getting back to work. St. Peter’s fell to 3-5.
