The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team dropped its second-consecutive NEC contest to Robert Morris, 79-50 at the Charles L. Sewall Center in Moon Twp., PA.  The Knights fall to 3-7 on the season with a 0-2 conference record, while the Colonials improve to 7-1 overall, 2-0 in the NEC. 

The Knights start Northeast Conference play with two losses for the first time since the 2007-08 season. 

Robert Morris shot an incredible 54.7 percent from the floor and 69.2 percent from three-point range to defeat the Knights.  FDU shot 28.6 percent.

The Knights won the tip and put up the first points on a layup from Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) in the opening possession.  The teams traded the lead on five occasions with neither team holding more than a three-point advantage through the first 12 minutes.

With eight minutes to go the Colonials took hold of the game and went on a 14-2 run and held the Knights scoreless from the field.  The scoring frenzy enabled the Colonials to take a 35-23 lead as the game went into halftime.

FDU shot just 28% from the field in the first 20 minutes, while the Colonials scored on 48.4% of their shot attempts.  The teams were even on the boards with 18 each.

Crawford scored the first basket of the second half to cut the Colonials' lead to ten points but RMU fought back quickly.  With lights-out shooting they continued to increase their lead throughout the second half.

Although the Knights were not held scoreless as long as they were in the first half, they were unable to score enough consecutive baskets to cut the lead. 

The Colonials played aggressive defense, forcing the Knights to produce 21 turnovers through all 40 minutes and holding them to just 16 baskets on 56 shots.  The Knights made three more attempted shots than the Colonials but could not catch the Colonials advantage because of their season-best shooting percentage. 

The Knights ultimately fell, 70-59.  Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) and Crawford led FDU's scoring attack with 11 points each.  The point total was a career-high for Crawford, who has broken her career-high in five categories in three games.   

RMU had four players in double-digits, including 2011 NEC Rookie of the Year, Artemis Spanou, who led the field with 20 points and 15 rebounds. 

The Knights were out-rebounded 38-34. 

The Knights will take nine days off before hosting Stony Brook in their next competition.  Tip-off on Wednesday, December 14 is slated for 7:00 pm at the Rothman Center in Hackensack, NJ.