FDU sophomore forward Madison Stanley had 10 points in the Knights’ 82-63 loss Monday against Sacred Heart.  (Anthony Covino photo)

By ANTHONY COVINO
Sports Writer

FDU women’s basketball continued to struggle in a 82-63 loss against Sacred Heart Monday night at home in a Northeast Conference tilt.

The Knights suffered their seventh consecutive loss to fall to 6-20 overall with a 3-12 record in the NEC. They are tied for eighth place in the conference with Central Connecticut State and LIU Brooklyn.

Sacred Heart improved to 15-11 with a 11-4 record in the NEC and currently sits second in the conference.

The Knights shot 23-50 (46.0 percent) from the field, 7-21 (33.3 percent) from behind the 3-point line, and converted 10-12 (83.3 percent) free throws.

Sacred Heart shot 28-46 (60.9 percent) from the field, 14-25 (56.0 percent) from behind the 3-point line and converted 12-19 (63.2 percent) free throws.

Senior guard Madelynn Comly led the Knights with 22 points. Senior guard Natalie Zamora had 11 points. Sophomore forward Madison Stanley added 10 points.

Graduate student forward Katherine Haines led the Pioneers with 22 points. Sophomore guard Jayla Davis has 19 points. Graduate student guard Erin Storck had 16 points, and redshirt senior guard Candice Leatherwood added 12 points.

“Sacred Heart showed why they’re the second best team (NEC),” FDU head coach Peter Cinella said. “Katherine Haines, from Bergen County, was just unbelievable and you also got to give credit to Erin Storck.

“We shot the ball well — 46 percent from the field, 33 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 83 percent from the foul line. That normally should be an opportunity to maybe be in the or win the game, but they shot so well with 60 percent.”

The Knights went into halftime down 34-23, but struggled defensively in the third quarter as Sacred Heart went on a 17-2 run to lead 55-31 with 4:48 remaining in the quarter. The Knights were up 66-43 going into the fourth quarter.

The Knights’ have three games remaining in the regular season: they travel to Mt. Saint Mary’s on Saturday, March 2, at 1 p.m.; they then travel to Central Connecticut State on March 4 at 7 p.m. The Knights end the season at home on Thursday, March 7, when they play LIU Brooklyn on Senior Day.