Feb. 18, 2006

Box Score

HACKENSACK, NJ - The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team fell, 77-76, to visiting Robert Morris University in the Rothman Center on Feb. 18. Colonial guard LeSheala Dawson (San Diego, CA) hit a three-pointer - her only field goal of the game - with 1.2 seconds remaining, giving RMU its first lead of the second-half and the victory, 77-76.

Senior guard Krissy Suckow (East Brunswick, NJ) led the Knights (7-16, 4-11 NEC) with 24 points. Freshman forward Katie Warehime (Littlestown, PA) came off the bench to contribute 12 points, sparking the squad with 10-consecutive points in a span of 1:48 in the second-half. Sophomore guard Shanay Freeman (Laurelton, NY) registered 16 points and eight rebounds.

The Colonials (17-7, 13-2 NEC) opened the game on an 11-4 run, sparked by two jumpers by guard Natasha Summerville (Arlington, TX).

Trailing 17-8, Suckow drove the lane for a hoop and the foul, knocking down the ensuing free throw to bring the score to 17-11.

On the Knights next possession, junior point guard Gayle Coats (Richmond, VA) converted a bucket inside despite a hard foul. Coats knocked down the free throw at 10:49, before junior forward Mercedez Walker (Stratford, CT) popped a jumper to draw the Knights within one possession at 19-16.

Sophomore forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD) knocked down two opportunities at the charity stripe, capping off a 10-2 surge by FDU that drew the Knights to within one at 19-18. Walkling hauled down seven rebounds in the first-half and recorded her fifth double-digit rebounding total of the season with 12 boards.

With 7:37 remaining in the initial 20 minutes, sophomore forward Nikki Lockhart (Rochester, NY) banked a hook shot off glass to level the score at 24-24. On FDU's following possession Suckow drained a shot from downtown to create a 27-27 contest.

Walker, who shot 4-of-7 from the floor, gave the Knights their first lead of the afternoon, 29-28, at the 5:23 mark with a tough bucket on the block. Freeman hit a 10-footer on the baseline as the Knights regained the lead, 31-30.

At halftime, the score was tied at 35-35, with a backcourt showdown developing between Suckow and RMU guard Psyche Butler (Fort Worth, TX). Suckow posted 12 points on 11 field goal attempts, while Butler poured in 14 points on five attempts from the floor. Fairleigh Dickinson stayed tough on the glass, matching the Colonials 22-22 in rebounds, in addition to holding a 9-6 advantage in assists.

The Knights opened the second-half on a 6-0 run fueled by two hoops by Freeman, en route to a 41-35 lead.

Robert Morris cut the deficit to one at 42-41, when sophomore point guard Megan Kirkland (Glen Allen, VA) responded with an assist to Walkling on a fast-break for a lay-in, as the Knights regained a five-point advantage at 46-41.Suckow connected on a three-ball at 14:23, shifting FDU ahead at 49-41.

Warehime completed an old-fashioned three-point play at the 13:30 mark, keeping FDU ahead, 52-47. The basket marked the first of 10-consecutive points for the 6-foot-1 freshman, ultimately shifting the Knights ahead, 59-51.

Freeman knocked down two free throws to give the Knights their largest advantage of the afternoon at 71-62 with 6:41 remaining. The sophomore hit 5-of-6 attempts from the line.

Summerville connected on her fifth three-pointer with 40 seconds on the clock, to create a 75-74 game. One their next possession, Dawson hit the game-winner from behind the arc, capping off a 16-4 RMU surge.

Butler and Summerville led the Colonials with 25 and 19 points, respectively. Butler added 14 rebounds en route to a double-double.

The Knights travel to Sacred Heart University at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 20.