MADISON, N.J. (February 21, 2018) - The FDU women's basketball team rode a 32 point fourth quarter en route to a 79-62 win over Misericordia in the Middle Atlantic Conference Semifinals Wednesday.

The Devils moved to 20-6, and will take on No. 2 DeSales in the MAC Freedom Championship Saturday at 1 p.m. inside the Ferguson Recreation Center. The Bulldogs upended No. 3 King's 64-44. Misericordia dropped to 16-10 with the setback.

FDU used a pair of 5-0 spurts in the first quarter, the second closing the frame out, to build a three point edge entering period two. The second rally ended with junior Raven Dowling hitting a layup with 40 seconds left. The Cougars battled back and took a slight lead, but sophomore Kendrea Williams banged home a trey to finish off a 7-0 run, giving the Devils a 22-17 lead.

Over the final seven minutes of the second quarter, Misericordia shot a blistering 8-of-13 from the field with only one turnover. In contrast, the Devils went 5-of-13 with three turnovers. That seven minute stretch helped the Cougars enter halftime with a 37-34 lead. The guests turned the ball over 12 times in the opening half, but FDU did not have much better ball control, giving up 11 of their own.

Junior Bria Smith converted four straight from the charity stripe in the third, pulling FDU to within one. A Cougar free throw with six seconds remaining in the stanza to head into the final period with a slim one point lead. The Devils came alive in the fourth, opening the half on a 25-6 run and limiting the Cougars to just two baskets over the first 7:40.

Sophomore Taiah Thornton recorded 15 points in the fourth, as the Devils shot 10-of-12 from the field, and more impressively, 12-of-12 from the line. The Cougars struggled with ball control, turning the ball over 17 times over the final 20 minutes, as FDU had a mere four.

All five starters tallied double-figures, as Thornton led the way with a season-high 24 points. Dowling was a perfect 4-for-4 from field, scoring 11 points to go along with six rebounds, six assists and six steals. Smith notched her 13th double-double of the season, going for 10 points and 13 rebounds.