The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team was defeated by Robert Morris on Thursday night, 79-50, in an NEC tilt at the Charles L. Sewall Center in Moon Township, PA. The Colonials improve to 10-6 (5-0 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 5-11 (1-4 NEC) overall.
Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) led the Knights with 21 points, with 15 points coming on a career-high five three-pointers on eight attempts. Jasmyra Saunders (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Catholic) added 12 points, and Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) chipped in 11 points. Saunders, Amy Longo (Pittsburgh, PA/North Catholic), and Erica McKeithan (Newport News, VA/Heritage) each had five boards to lead the Knights on the glass. Laury dished out four assists and had three steals to lead FDU.
Laury scored the first points of the game on a three-pointer from the right wing. The Colonials scored eight unanswered points to take an 8-3 advantage.
The Knights answered with seven unanswered points of their own to tie the game at 10 with 15:48 to go in the first half. Mayrose hit a deep trey from the top of the key to start the run, and Laury capped the run with a short jumper.
Robert Morris scored the game's next five points before FDU went on its second 7-0 run in the half to take a 17-15 lead. Mayrose hit her second deep three-pointer of the first half to tie the game, and Laury's driving layup, with time expiring on the shot clock, put the Knights back on top.
The Colonials then scored 13 unanswered points over a six minute span to take a 28-17 lead with 4:10 to go in the first half. Laury's two free throws ended the Knights' scoring drought.
After exchanging baskets for a three minute stretch, the Colonials scored the final five points of the half to take a 41-27 halftime lead.
Laury led the Knights in the first half with 11 points. She also had three steals. Mayrose added eight points and went 2-for-3 from behind the arc. Saunders came off the bench to add six points and a team-high three rebounds.
The Colonials shot 51.6 percent in the first half, going 16-for-31 from the floor. The Knights shot a respectable 40 percent from the floor, going 10-for-25. Robert Morris also held a 20-12 advantage on the boards.
Both teams got off to sluggish starts to open the second half. Down 43-27, Mayrose's third deep three-pointer of the game gave the Knights their first bucket of the second half with 16:29 to go.
FDU outscored Robert Morris, 7-2, to cut the Colonials' lead to 45-37 at the 14:17 mark of the second half. That was the closest the Knights would get the rest of the game. Mayrose scored all seven points on the run and the first 10 points of the second half for the Knights.
After the mini-run by the Knights, the Colonials scored the game's next 16 points to take a commanding 61-37 lead with 8:44 to go in the game. Robert Morris outscored FDU, 18-13, the rest of the way for the 79-50 victory.
"When we cut the lead to eight, I though we were in good position to make a run," said Head Coach Pete Cinella. "But they exploded and we couldn't get anything started."
The Knights struggled from the field for the game as they shot 17-for-58 (29.3 percent). The Colonials shot 50.8 percent, going 30-for-59 from the field.
Robert Morris held a huge advantage down low as they out-rebounded the Knights, 44-33, and scored 36 points in the paint, compared to only 10 by the Knights.
Both teams combined for 32 turnovers in the game. The Knights turned the ball over 17 times and forced 15 turnovers by the Colonials.
The Knights continue their Pennsylvania road swing and will start to head back east, stopping for an NEC matchup Saturday afternoon versus St. Francis (PA) in Loretto, PA. Tip-off is scheduled to take place at 4:00 p.m.
