The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team was overtaken in the second half, Saturday, Jan. 24, and dropped a 62-57 decision versus visiting Robert Morris University in Hackensack, NJ.
The Knights slipped to 4-13 overall and 3-5 in the Northeast Conference, despite a pair of team-highs 21 points and 10 rebounds, by forward Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) (Bayonne, NJ). The effort marked the junior's fourth of the year.
Sophomore guard Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) (Freehold, NJ) provided a solid stat line of 16 points and six rebounds, complemented by a team-leading five assists and three steals. Freshman guard Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) (Orange, NJ) hauled down a career-best seven rebounds, while registering six points and three steals.
After a 19-6 stronghold in second chance points, Robert Morris extended its season-high winning streak to four games, en route to advancing to 9-10 overall and 7-2 against NEC opponents. Robert Morris senior guard Sade Logan (Knoxville, TN) and junior forward Monet Johnson (Brooklyn, NY) combined for 39 points, going for 26 and 13, respectively. Junior forward Latavia Vails (Odenton, MD) added 12 points ? all coming in the second half.
“We stepped up, followed the game plan, made a lot of big shots, and got some key defensive stops,” Head Coach Peter Cinella said. “Logan hit some big three's late, and Robert Morris made plays in the last few minutes. I'm proud of how our team battled over the full 40 minutes.”
The Colonials netted the afternoon's first five points. Altamirano answered by striking twice. A pull-up in the paint by freshman center Erica McKeithan (Newport News, VA/Heritage) (Newport News, VA) made it a 7-6 hole for FDU at the 15:14 mark. Two minutes later, junior guard Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) (Avalon, NJ) drained a three-ball from the left wing, knotting things, 9-9.
RMU scored twice in three trips down the floor, but a jumper courtesy of Laury ultimately evened things up once again, 13-13. Sykes hit the line and gave the Knights their first lead of the day, 16-15, with 6:37 remaining.
Fairleigh Dickinson opened up a three-point margin, prior to Logan connecting from behind the arc. Seconds later, Mayrose converted in transition then later added another lay-up as the buzzer ushered in halftime.
The Knights held a 25-22 advantage at the break, led by Altamirano's seven points. Laury already bested her previous career-high on the glass, collected six rips during the initial 20 minutes. Conversely, Johnson paced her squad with 10 points, flanked by eight from Logan.
The Colonials tallied a tandem of field goals to open the second half and pressed on for a 31-27 lead ? a byproduct of their 9-2 run. Altamirano made good on an old-fashioned three-point play opportunity and sliced the count to 31-30 with 16:47 left.
Logan canned a triple to open up a two-possession contest, as the reigning NEC Player of the Year hit from deep on four occasions in the period. Just over a minute later, senior guard Kendra Williams (Bronx, NY) splashed a trey. Laury went glass on the break, capitalizing on an assist from Mayrose. Vails knocked down a long deuce, when Mayrose answered from downtown, and FDU trailed, 45-38, at the 12:06 mark.
Logan opened up a double-digit with another dagger from long distance. Yet, Fairleigh Dickinson fought back, as Altamirano pilfered a pass and recorded a contested lay-in. Mayrose hit two chances at the charity stripe following a swipe of her own, and she punctuated a 7-0 surge with a wide open three-pointer.
A 3:03 scoring drought was stopped when Logan hit a fade-away for three. Laury picked a pocket and ran the floor, where Altamirano attacked the offensive boards and went 1-of-2 at the line, en route to the Knights trailing, 56-55, with 2:02 remaining.
Robert Morris sealed its second road victory of the season via a 6-0 run. The Knights ? who have dropped six-straight ? scored in the final second. The loss shifted Cinella's squad to 3-5 at home and 2-2 against league foes on their home hardwood.
FDU entertains Saint Francis University (PA) at 7:00 p.m., Monday, Jan. 26 at Stratis Arena in the Rothman Center.
