HACKENSACK, N.J. (Interstat) — Madlena Gerke scored 18 points as Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Chicago State 66-52 in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at Rothman Center. The Knights built a 36-24 halftime lead and maintained control throughout the second half. Ava Renninger added 12 points and four assists for Fairleigh Dickinson, which improved to 23-4. The Cougars, led by Kyara Champagne’s nine points, dropped to 8-19. Chicago State’s 19-point fourth quarter was its highest-scoring period but not enough to close the gap.

HACKENSACK, N.J. (Interstat) — Madlena Gerke scored 18 points and the Fairleigh Dickinson women’s basketball team used a dominant first half to secure a 66-52 victory over Chicago State on Thursday night at Rothman Center. The Knights, leading the Northeast Conference, improved to 23-4 overall and remained perfect in league play. The Cougars fell to 8-19. Fairleigh Dickinson established control early, leveraging its defensive pressure and efficient offense to build a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter. The Knights opened the game on a 7-0 run, capped by a Rebecca Osei-Owusu driving layup, and never trailed. They led 17-11 after the first quarter and extended the advantage to 36-24 by halftime. The most important stretch of the game came late in the second quarter, when the Knights effectively put the contest out of reach. With Chicago State having trimmed the deficit to 25-22 after a Marisa Gant free throw with just over three minutes left in the half, Fairleigh Dickinson closed the quarter on an 11-2 run. The surge was fueled by Gerke, the 5-foot-10 guard from Riga, Latvia, who hit two three-pointers during the run, including one with two seconds left that gave the Knights their 12-point halftime cushion. That sequence halted Chicago State’s momentum and restored a comfortable margin that the Cougars could not overcome in the second half. Gerke, who played 31 minutes, added an assist and a steal to her game-high point total. Ava Renninger provided steady playmaking for Fairleigh Dickinson, contributing 12 points and four assists in 35 minutes. The Knights’ interior defense was anchored by Akeelah Lafleur of Willingboro, New Jersey, who blocked three shots and scored eight points in just 13 minutes off the bench. Chicago State, which shot poorly from the field throughout the night, was led by Kyara Champagne’s nine points. Kayla Mount added seven points for the Cougars, who struggled to find consistent offense against the Knights’ defense. The Cougars made a push in the fourth quarter, outscoring Fairleigh Dickinson 19-16 in the period, but the early deficit proved too large to erase. The Knights shared the scoring load, with Leah Crosby and Osei-Owusu each adding six points. Kailee McDonald chipped in eight points for Fairleigh Dickinson, which has now won 12 consecutive games. The game was a rematch of a Jan. 8 meeting in Chicago, which Fairleigh Dickinson won 91-64. The Knights have now won six straight in the series. An announced crowd of 314 watched as Fairleigh Dickinson methodically handled the Cougars, committing fewer turnovers and converting key opportunities in transition. Chicago State’s offense was plagued by missed layups and contested shots, particularly in a third quarter where they managed only nine points. With the victory, Fairleigh Dickinson maintains its position atop the conference standings as it pursues a regular-season title. Chicago State continues its search for consistency amid a challenging season. Both teams return to conference play on Saturday. Fairleigh Dickinson travels to face New Haven, while Chicago State visits Central Connecticut.

HACKENSACK, N.J. (Interstat) — A surging Fairleigh Dickinson looks to continue its dominant season when it hosts struggling Chicago State in a Northeast Conference women’s basketball matchup Thursday at Rothman Center. The Knights (22-4) enter on a 10-game winning streak and sit atop the conference standings. They are coming off a commanding 77-36 road victory over Central Connecticut on Feb. 14, a performance that showcased their stifling defense and balanced offense. Forward Leah Crosby has been a consistent force, averaging 10.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game during the streak, including a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double against Mercyhurst on Feb. 7. Fairleigh Dickinson handily won the first meeting this season, 91-64, at Chicago State on Jan. 8. The visiting Cougars (8-18) have lost three of their last four, including a narrow 80-76 home loss to Le Moyne on Saturday. Guard Brianna Hill led Chicago State in that contest with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes. Hill has been a bright spot, averaging 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists over her last eight games. Chicago State’s challenge will be finding an answer for a Knights defense that has held opponents to an average of 49.2 points during their current win streak. Fairleigh Dickinson also leads the conference in scoring margin, outscoring foes by nearly 16 points per game. The Knights’ remaining schedule favors a run at the conference’s top postseason seed, making a home victory against the ninth-place Cougars a critical expectation. For Chicago State, the game represents a chance to play spoiler and build momentum ahead of the conference tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.