By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)
TEANECK, N.J. — After the compilation of notes, diagrams and shot charts, it all came down to these numbers that just jumped off the stat sheet and begged for recognition.
A 38 percent field goal defense and a resounding 49-29 difference in rebounding. That went a long way in deciding FDU’s 52-45 victory over Wagner Saturday at the Bogota Savings Bank Center.
“We told the kids and that was on the board, ‘defense and rebounding,’” FDU coach Stephanie Gaitley said. “That’s our culture and I think it was evident in our stats.”
Saturday’s game saw FDU improve to 19-4 (10-0 NEC), while the Seahawks are now 10-11 (6-4 NEC). Wagner had a four-game winning streak stopped. The last prior loss by the Seahawks was a 56-46 setback against these same FDU Knights. Regardless, Gaitley anticipated a battle and has the utmost respect for Wagner.
FDU led by ten following the first period. Wagner cut the difference to six at halftime. Entering the final stanza, the Knights owned a 14-point lead and the FDU faithful anticipated a victory. Wagner refused to go away.
With 42 seconds remaining, it was a two-possession game. The Knights were able to seal the verdict by virtue of two free throws each by Kailee McDonald and Leah Crosby in the final 23 seconds. Gaitley was not surprised they made that final surge.
“The last time we played them and beat them, you could see that’s a winning culture,” Gaitley said. “I said (to Wagner coach Terrell Coburn), ‘you guys are doing a great job.’”
Points of Emphasis:
The Rat award winners: Given by the FDU staff to the player(s) personifying grit and toughness, especially on the defensive end.
“(Rebecca Osei-Owusu) and Leah (Crosby), they got our rat of the game,” Gaitley said. “Our offense wasn’t clicking, they both got a double-double and did a great job.”
Crosby posted a game-high 12-point, 11-rebound
double-double. Osei-Owusu scored 10 while grabbing 12 boards, the latter a game-high. Osei-Owusu also did a nice job on Wagner’s post threat, 6-foot-3 Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor, who finished with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting.
“Becca did a great job countering what she could do,” Gaitley praised. “Becca slowed her down.”
Kailee McDonald shot 0-for-7 from three in the first half. The Knights’ sophomore guard came out in the second half and hit her first attempt from downtown. She never wavered nor lost confidence in her shot.
McDonald epitomized the axiom of shooters needing short memories.
“I just needed to focus on what’s happening next,” McDonald said. “I needed to focus on the next shot and keep going.”
A solid all-around player, McDonald pulled down eight boards, three on the offensive end.
“She is probably one of the best offensive rebounders I ever coached,” Gaitley said. “She just plays both ends of the court.”
McDonald finished with 10 points, shooting 2-of-11 from deep. Her contributions in this win went far beyond her point total and shooting percentage.
“Obviously, I love defense,” McDonald added. “We know what to bring the second half of the season. We just have to keep our foot on the pedal.”
Pressure: Wagner was able to stay within striking distance with its pressure that forced 18 FDU turnovers.
“We got a little rattled with the press,” Gaitley admitted. “Ava (Renninger) was hurt going into this game, but she did a great job getting through it after
pulling her groin in our last game.”
Renninger scored six points and handed out four assists. She did have six turnovers, but toughed it out, playing the full 40 minutes.
Notes: In tempo-free numbers, FDU posted an 83 offensive efficiency. The number that matters most to Gaitley was the defensive efficiency of 69, 12 under Wagner’s average.
FDU struggled on the offensive end, shooting 31 percent from the floor. The Knights were just 6-of-28) from three. Wagner had difficulty at the charity stripe, shooting only 8-for-18. The Seahawks’ norm from the line is 63 percent.
Doyinsola Modesayor and Irene Fernandez de Caleya led Wagner with 10 points each. Keana Foz added eight, including six when the Seahawks were making their last-period run.
Wagner visits Le Moyne on Thursday. FDU is also on the road against Stonehill, whom the Knights defeated at home, 78-54, this past Thursday.
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