HACKENSACK, N.J. (Interstat) — The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights, one of the nation’s elite teams, methodically dispatched the struggling Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash 61-39 in a Northeast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday afternoon at Rothman Center.

The Knights, now 27-4 overall, used a dominant first half and a balanced scoring attack to secure the victory in front of 1,000 fans. The Red Flash fell to 3-26, unable to overcome a frigid offensive performance that saw them score just 19 points in the first half.

Fairleigh Dickinson set the tone early, opening the game on a 10-0 run fueled by three-pointers from Kailee McDonald and Madlena Gerke. Saint Francis (PA) struggled to find any rhythm, committing five turnovers in the first quarter alone as the Knights built a 19-13 lead.

The second quarter was where the game decisively turned. The Knights’ defense completely smothered the Red Flash, holding them to a mere six points on 3-of-12 shooting. Meanwhile, Fairleigh Dickinson continued to find success from beyond the arc. Reese Downey connected on two three-pointers in the period, part of a 15-6 quarter that gave the Knights a commanding 34-19 halftime advantage.

The most important stretch of the game was a 12-2 run by Fairleigh Dickinson that bridged the end of the first and start of the second quarters. After Saint Francis (PA) closed to within 16-13 late in the first, the Knights scored the final three points of the period on a Downey three-pointer. They then opened the second quarter with nine consecutive points, featuring a Gerke jumper, a Rebecca Osei-Owusu layup, and Downey’s second three, extending the lead to 28-13 and effectively putting the game out of reach.

Saint Francis (PA) never threatened in the second half. The Red Flash managed only six points in the third quarter as the Knights’ lead ballooned to as many as 24 points. A late 14-point fourth quarter for the visitors did little to impact the final outcome.

McDonald, a guard from Lowell, Massachusetts, led all scorers with 17 points, including three three-pointers, in 24 minutes. Ava Renninger of Yardley, Pennsylvania, orchestrated the offense with seven points, six rebounds and seven assists. For Saint Francis (PA), Aleah James of Brooklyn, New York, provided a bright spot with 13 points, while Shelby Ricks of Lakeland, Florida, added 10 points and nine rebounds.

The statistical disparity told the story of the lopsided contest. Fairleigh Dickinson shot 12 for 36 from three-point range, while Saint Francis (PA) managed only 3 for 11. The Knights also capitalized on Red Flash mistakes, scoring 14 points off 14 turnovers, compared to just six points off turnovers for the visitors. Fairleigh Dickinson’s offensive efficiency rating of 98.0 on 62 possessions dwarfed Saint Francis (PA)’s rating of 64.6 on 56 possessions.

The victory continued a dominant season for Fairleigh Dickinson, which entered the game having won 14 of its last 15. For Saint Francis (PA), the loss extended a difficult campaign, though it did show a slight improvement from a 73-28 defeat to these same Knights on Jan. 4.

Both teams conclude their regular seasons this weekend before heading to the Northeast Conference tournament.