The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team fell to Northeast Conference opponent Robert Morris University, 67-53, on Monday, January 17 at The Charles L. Sewall Center in Moon Township, PA. With the loss, the Knights fall to 10-7 (3-3 NEC) on the season, while the Colonials advance to 9-7 (6-0 NEC).
After trailing 31 points at halftime, the Knights cut the deficit to just 11 points but were not able to even the score.
Robert Morris took an early first half lead, holding the Knights scoreless through the first six and a half minutes. After senior Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) dropped her first three-pointer, the Knights trailed 13-3 with 13:28 remaining in the half.
FDU seemed to create a spark connecting three consecutive jump shots for a 6-0 run between 8:45 and 5:55 but RMU was quick to respond with three. The Colonials would hold the Knights scoreless again through the final five minutes of the half.
The Colonials went on to take their biggest lead of the game, 42-11, at the break.
The Knights struggled to connect in the first half, shooting just 18.5 percent (5-for-27) from the field. RMU shot 53.3 percent (16-for-30) during the first 20 minutes, including 6-for-10 from beyond the arc.
Red-shirt freshman Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) started the half for the Knights, putting two quick points on the board. With help from two three-pointers from Mayrose, the Knights would take control of the game in the first five minutes of the half.
RMU put their first points of the half up at 16:10 but would score only eight points until the nine-minute mark.
With seven minutes remaining, the Knights cut the deficit to 11 points but would not be able to close the gap. Although FDU outscored Robert Morris in the second half, 42-25, RMU continued to hit big shots and ended the game with a 67-53 advantage.
FDU shot a combined 30.2 percent after making 14-of-36 for 38.9 percent from the field in the second half. The Knights shot 30.8 percent (8-for-26) from three point range.
RMU made 24-of-57 from the field (42.1 percent) including 7-for-18 from beyond the arc. The Colonials out-rebounded the Knights 45-38.
Mayrose led the Knights with a season-high 20 points, 17 of those coming in the second half. Mayrose shot 5-for-8 from three point range and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. Pankey added 12 points for the Knights while grabbing five rebounds.
Jenna Kowal (Brick, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) chipped in a season-high seven points and had a career-high five assists. On the glass, Esther Wallace (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) led the Knights with eight rebounds.
"This team had a lot of heart," said Head Coach Pete Cinella. "They came back from a big halftime deficit and cut the lead to 11 points."
"We had new players step it up and show potential," Cinella added. "That should give us better all-around depth."
The Knights will look to improve their .500 conference record when they travel to Central Connecticut State University on Saturday, January 22 for an NEC match-up. The Knights defeated the Blue Devils, 51-46, in their first meeting on December 22. Tip-off at Detrick Gymnasium is slated for 1:00 pm.
