The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team lost, 89-61, versus visiting Robert Morris University, Wednesday, Jan. 16 at Stratis Arena in Hackensack, NJ. Freshman guard Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) posted a career-high nine points, as the Knights fell to 6-10 overall and 2-3 in the Northeast Conference.
Sophomore forward Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) scored 12 points, in addition to notching six rebounds. Senior forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD/Westminster) (Westminster, MD/Westminster) finished with a pair of team-bests ? 15 points and seven rebounds. Junior center Shenika Chang (New York, NY/Park West) (New York, NY/Park West/Globe) chipped-in a career-high fix points.
RMU junior guard Sade Logan (Knoxville, TN/Chattanooga State) ? the league's leading scorer ? recorded a game-high 20 points, with senior guard Psyche Butler (Fort Worth, TX/New Mexico J.C.) went for 15 points.
The Colonials (7-9, 3-2 NEC) began the evening on a 9-0 push, before Walkling opened the scoring for FDU with a deuce inside. Senior center Mercedez Walker (Stratford, CT/Bunnell) (Stratford, CT/Bunnell) grabbed an offensive board and banked-in a left-handed hook shot with 15:25 remaining, bringing things to 11-6.
RMU junior guard Angela Pace (Westchester, NY/Monroe) went coast-to-coast amidst an 8-0 run, opening up a double-digit margin, 19-8, with 12:42 left. Altamirano ended a 4:21 drought from the field at the 9:19 mark.
Mayrose grabbed a defensive rebound and sprinted past a cluster of Robert Morris defenders to notch a lay-in with 3:47 remaining, as the Knights trailed, 38-17.
“”Robert Morris came out and played very strong,” Head Coach Peter Cinella said. “They stayed after it for a full 40 minutes. Our effort in the second-half was much improved, and we'll expect to carry that to Saturday's game.”
FDU was out-rebounded, 24-19, in the initial 20 minutes, as the Colonials cleaned the glass for 12 offensive boards before the break. RMU held a 42-19 advantage at halftime, propelled by 28 points in the paint and 10 in transition. Logan and Butler led the way with 10 points each, while FDU senior guard Shanay Freeman (Laurelton, NY/Towsend Harris) (Laurelton, NY/Towsend Harris) collected four.
Mayrose ? who also tallied a career-best two assists and matched her previous career-best of six rips ? took a feed from Freeman (11 points) from behind the arc and spotted up for a three-ball. The rookie was again fed by Freeman on the ensuing trip down the floor at the 13:54 mark, creating a 57-33 contest. A little more than three minutes later, Mayrose led the break, dishing to Walkling who converted an old-fashioned three-point play.
Pace led the Colonials on the glass with eight rebounds, coupled with 11 points. Senior forward Chinata Nesbit (Washington, DC/Chipola J.C.) quietly amassed 15 points, six assists and four rebounds.
Robert Morris cashed in on 21 FDU turnovers, scoring 23 points as a byproduct of the home-standing squad's mistakes.
The Knights travel to New Britain, CT, at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, Jan 19 to face Central Connecticut State University.
