Fairleigh Dickinson Wins NEC Title, Extends 22-Game Winning Streak Into NCAA Tournament.

Fairleigh Dickinson University secured the Northeast Conference (NEC) championship with a decisive 79-57 victory over Long Island University on Sunday, extending its winning streak to 22 games heading into the NCAA tournament. The Knights, who finished the season at 30-4, earned an automatic NCAA bid under third-year head coach Stephanie Gaitley. Last season marked the program’s first NCAA tournament appearance. Akeelah Lafleur contributed 15 points off the bench, including a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range. Leah Crosby and Ava Renninger each recorded double-doubles, with Crosby tallying 10 points and 14 rebounds and Renninger posting 13 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Reserves Bella Toomey and Reese Downey each scored 12 points, with Downey hitting 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, while Kailee McDonald added 11 points. Long Island University, led by Kadidia Toure’s 28 points and nine rebounds, held an early 8-2 lead. Toure scored six points in the first 4:27, but a 10-0 run, fueled by Crosby and McDonald, gave Fairleigh Dickinson a 12-8 lead after the first quarter. Renninger and Downey extended the run to 16-0 in the second quarter, giving the Knights a 10-point edge that grew to 38-22 by halftime. The third quarter saw the Sharks remain competitive, but a late Downey three-pointer pushed the lead to 56-37. Fairleigh Dickinson’s bench outperformed Long Island’s reserves, outscoring them 13-0 in the first half and 28-5 in the second, helping secure the NEC title and another NCAA tournament appearance for the program.