EMMITSBURG, Md. (January 29, 2021) – The Mount St. Mary's women's basketball team started off slow for the second straight game before finding their groove in the second half. The end result was a 13-point victory and a split with Fairleigh Dickinson in the season series.
 
After scoring a season low 10 first quarter points in Thursday's loss, the Mount struggled on offense out of the gate again Friday. Shooting 4-for-15 from the floor, the team mustered nine points in the opening frame. But where FDU capitalized in the first game, they were held in check, as the Mount's defense limited the Knights to single digits as well. The home side held a slim 9-8 margin in a quarter that had just seven combined accurate shots.
 
That defensive stand gave the Mount a jolt of momentum. Following a brief trade off of leads, Kendall Bresee gave the home squad a 21-19 advantage with 4:18 left in the second quarter. The trey inspired a 9-0 run, transforming a one point deficit to an eight point lead. The Mount went into the locker room up four.
 
FDU could only maintain that deficit before the Mount made another run in the third quarter. This run was fed through Rebecca Lee, who shook off the intense interior defense of the Knights. She would score 10 points by going 5-for-5 shooting, helping the Mount's lead to double digits at the 39-29 mark. A layup by Isabella Hunt minutes later put the Emmitsburg side up 17, which would be their largest lead.
 
But the Knights still eyed the road sweep and made one last run at the Mountaineers. They would cut the lead down to 12 by the end of the third quarter, and back into single digits early in the fourth quarter. That's when another Mountaineer who registered double figures – Michaela Harrison – went to work. A personal 5-1 run for the junior pushed the advantage back up to 12.
 
Those points would be needed when FDU came roaring back again, as the visiting defense held the Mount at bay for two minutes of game time, allowing them to pull within five. Needing successful possessions, seniors Kayla Agentowicz and Bridget Birkhead delivered with a respective layup and three pointer. Free throws down the stretch iced the game.
 
Mount St. Mary's (7-4, 6-2 NEC) was led in scoring by Harrison, who went 5-for-10, finishing with 17 points. Bresee earned her sixth double-double of the season, adding 15 points and securing 14 rebounds. Lee went 6-for-8 from the floor during the game to score 12, and Birkhead's clutch three put her scoring total at 10.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson (8-5, 4-4 NEC) received a triple-double from Maria Roters, who scored 11 points, grabbed 11 boards and dished out 10 assists. Forward Madison Stanley was key to the late rallies as she finished with 19 second-half points and 21 for the game.
 
With postponements, the Mount is now on a 10 day hiatus from game action. Their next contest is against Wagner on February 9th at Staten Island. The Seahawks are off to a 4-1 start and are also vying for a top spot in the conference.