#2 MOUNT ST. MARY'S (20-11, 14-4 NEC) vs. #3 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (13-1, 9-9 NEC)
Thursday, March 12 | 7:00 p.m.
Emmitsburg, Md. | Knott Arena
ESPN3 | LIVE STATS | GAME NOTES
EMMITSBURG, Md. (March 11, 2020) - The Mount St. Mary's women's basketball team enters the Northeast Conference (NEC) semifinals for the second straight year looking for their first championship game appearance since 2001. Standing in the way is the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.
Due to the abundance of caution amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, the game will be played with limited attendance. Fans can watch the game from home on ESPN3.
THE MATCHUP
This will be the grudge match between Mount and Fairleigh Dickinson. Each side won in the regular season on their opponents' court. The Mountaineers took the contest in New Jersey 69-61 back on February 1st and the Knights took the regular season finale 66-63 in Emmitsburg.
Mount St. Mary's leads the overall series, 35-25, but the Fairleigh Dickinson win on March 5th broke an eight game win streak by the Mountaineers.
MOUNTAINEER REPORT
The Mount's tournament dreams were in jeopardy as they struggled to a 25-25 tie against Long Island in the quarterfinals. That all changed with a 55 point second half, the team's best performance in a 20 minute span this season. Six players scored in the 80-47 win, led by Bridget Birkhead with 17. Rebecca Lee added 13 points and rejected a pair of shots to tally 100 blocks in her career, becoming the second Mountaineer to do so. Michaela Harrison and her 14 points included a pair of triples which places her sixth on the all-time list with 159 treys.
The point total marked the second consecutive NEC quarterfinal where the Mount scored 80 points. They pulled off an 80-74 upset of St. Francis Brooklyn last year.
A victory would put the Mount in the NEC final for the first time in 19 years. The 2000-01 team clinched the No. 1 seed and advanced to the final before losing to LIU Brooklyn. The last championship win for the Mount came in 1995.
KNIGHTS REPORT
Fairleigh Dickinson continues to enjoy their history making season. The team clinched the No. 3 seed in the NEC with the victory over Mount on March 5th, marking their highest finish in the standings in 27 years. Perenially one of the better challengers during the Mount's heyday, the Knights are seeking their first championship since 1992.
In the quarterfinal, FDU held Bryant in check, limiting the Bulldogs to a 30.2 field goal percentage and 43 points. Maria Roters led with 14 points in the 14 point win.
Lauren Francillon - who went off against the Mount with 33 points and 10 rebounds - leads the Knights with 12 points and seven boards per game.
LOOKING AHEAD
Whoever advances to the NEC Championship game will play the winner of No. 1 Robert Morris and No. 5 Sacred Heart on Sunday (March 15).
