FDU holds off Le Moyne to remain undefeated in NEC

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

TEANECK, N.J. — The media notes told us FDU’s 11-0 start in Northeast Conference play, was the best in program history, and the best in the NEC since Robert Morris got out of the gates 14-0 five seasons ago. While all this looks very impressive, Stephanie Gaitley knows all the window dressing doesn’t matter until you take the court.

Gaitley’s FDU team may be ahead of the pack, but it comes down to a simple scenario: No nights off. Each opponent is a threat, especially when you take the court with a target on your back as the Knights did Thursday.

Ultimately, the threat was quelled as FDU defeated Le Moyne, 65-46, moving to 22-3 overall after a game that was closer than the final score let on. Le Moyne, although just 4-21, was competitive and within striking distance into the final period, using its 3-point shooting to stay within earshot.

“That was on the scout,” Gaitley said, “not to give up the three-pointers. We gave up two to No. 4 (Sierra Linnin) early.”

For Le Moyne head coach Nick DiPillo, the concern was inside the arc.

“We actually missed some layups that might have given us a six or eight-point lead,” he said. “That’s tough against a team that is so well-coached and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.”

As it played out, the two teams were tied at 13 following the first ten minutes. An 8-0 run in the second period allowed FDU to build a 27-20 halftime lead. Le Moyne was still within three possessions, only trailing by a 45-38 margin entering the fourth period. In that final period, the signature FDU defense stepped to the fore, holding Le Moyne scoreless over its first four minutes, allowing zero second chances. On the offensive end, the Knights found their range, hitting three 3-pointers. Le Moyne scored eight points on just three field goals in the last period.

“The game was a reflection of the last two days of practice,” Gaitley said. “Those were very average practices and I thought our execution for the most part was average. I have to give credit to Le Moyne. They came out ready to play, but I think we definitely came to play in the second half.”

Efficiency: On the season in NEC play, FDU leads the league with a 106 offensive efficiency and 81 defensively. Le Moyne is eighth with an 84 on offense, and at the bottom of the order with 95 on defense. Following a 15-possession first period, with the score tied at 13, both teams shared an 87 offensive efficiency. For the 59-possession contest, the Knights held a 110-78 advantage in offensive efficiency.

Le Moyne finished 14-2 in NEC play last season, its first at the Division I level. The Dolphins advanced to the conference championship game, where they lost to Sacred Heart. Their first win in conference play that year was a 65-52 victory over FDU last January. Le Moyne lost a number of those contributors, as well as coach Mary Grimes, who went to Binghamton. For DiPillo, in his first season, it’s been a rebuild that has impressed Gaitley.

“I was impressed by their grittiness,” she said. “I thought they were well-coached, they played physically aggressive and didn’t back down. They did a great job.”

Le Moyne’s record does not do proper justice to the work the Dolphins have put in, especially in DiPillo’s estimation, as he sees progress.

“Time together has helped,” he said. “Us being healthier for a longer stretch has helped. Eli Clark (freshman guard) has been huge for us. She’s just steady in everything she does. Getting (junior guard) Sierra Linnin back gives us a couple of kids who can score and take care of defensive mistakes.”

Postseason: “They’re clearly the number one,” DiPillo said of FDU. “Two through nine, who knows how it’s going to shake out? Conference tournaments generally can be weird. It’s a super-balanced league, anybody can hang with anybody. (FDU) earned the right for the championship to come through here, so whomever comes here, they’re going to have to bring their A-game.”

Balanced scoring: The Knights placed four in double figures. Ava Renninger led the way with 14 points, Lilly Parke and Abaigeal Babore each added 13, and Teneisia Brown scored 10. Brown also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for her fifth straight double-double. Linnin was Le Moyne’s lone double-digit scorer, with 14 points.

Notes: FDU shot 43 percent from the floor, including 36 percent from three. Le Moyne shot 35 percent for the game and from three. The Dolphins canned three trifectas in the first period, but only three more over the remainder of the contest. The Knights had a 13-5 edge in points off turnovers and 12-4 in second chance points.

Renninger is having an excellent season, leading FDU in scoring with 14.7 points per game. A good foundation for her success has been the extra work.

“If I don’t have an early morning class, I get up early and get in the gym to shoot for about an hour,” the freshman guard said.

A good all-around athlete, Renninger was the quarterback on her high school flag football team. She loves football and professes a fan devotion to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I’m originally from Western Pennsylvania,” she said.

Le Moyne hosts LIU on Saturday, while FDU welcomes Saint Francis University to the Garden State.

“We’ll get on the bus for a five-hour ride (to Syracuse),” DiPillo said. “That gives us a day to prepare, but with the Thursday/Saturday conference games, a lot of teams go through the same thing.”

“Another tough one,” Gaitley said of her own team’s next challenge. “They’re playing well and are in fourth place. They gave us all we could handle out at their place.”

FDU scored a 63-56 victory in Loretto last month.

NEC Supervisor of Officials Jon Levinson was on hand to evaluate the crew.