The Knights (7-7, 2-1 NEC) saw their three-game win streak snapped by Saint Francis University, 68-50, Saturday at Stratis Arena in their NEC home opener.

FDU scored the first 13 points of the game and jumped out to a 17-2 lead after sophomore Miah Register (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic)'s steal led to a fast-break layup for junior Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) with 11:56 left before halftime.

Sophomore Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area)'s three-point play kept the lead at 15 at 20-5 before SFU rallied with a 21-6 run over the next 8:11 to tie the game at 26 with 1:55 to go in the opening half.

After the Knights took a 28-26 lead on a pair of Register free throws, the Red Flash's Alli Williams knocked down a three-pointer with 36 seconds before halftime to give SFU a 29-28 lead at the break.

SFU scored the first 11 points after the break and never looked back as FDU never got closer than nine points, allowing the visitors to cruise to a 68-50 victory.

The biggest difference in the game was the Red Flash press, which forced 23 turnovers (17 steals) and led to 28 points. Three-point shooting was also key as the Knights made only 1-of-18 from downtown, while SFU knocked down 6-of-19 from behind the arc.

FDU only shot 28.1 percent (18-of-64) from the floor, while the Red Flash shot 40.6 percent (26-of-64). Each team grabbed 48 rebounds. The Knights recorded a season-high 14 steals and forced 18 turnovers.

Junior Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) led FDU with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Livermore picked up her 11th double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Register recorded a career-high five steals.

Pankey leads FDU in scoring, averaging 15.9 points per game, while scoring in double figures in 12 of 14 contests this season. She is also averaging 5.9 rebounds per contest and leads the team in steals (23). Over her last 10 games, Pankey has scored in double-figures and is averaging 17.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

Livermore is averaging 14.2 points and a team-high 11.8 rebounds per game, while shooting a team-best 47.7 percent (74-of-155) from the field. She has recorded 11 double-doubles in 14 games this season, which is tied for fifth in the country. Livermore's rebounding average is the 10th best in the nation.

The Colonials (3-11, 2-1 NEC), who are picked to finish fifth in the 12-team Northeast Conference, saw their three-game win streak snapped on Saturday at Monmouth, 58-47, for their first NEC loss. RMU started the season 0-11 but played a tough nonconference schedule, which featured games at Colgate, Miami (OH), Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Central Michigan, Coppin State and Kent State. The Colonials defeated Central Connecticut (65-48) and Bryant (71-69) at home to start NEC play.

The Colonials are led by junior forward Artemis Spanou, a preseason All-NEC selection, who is averaging team highs of 18.6 points and 14.5 rebounds per game, which is the top rebounding average in the country. She also leads the team in assists (36) and steals (33).

The Knights and the Colonials will be meeting for the 52nd time in the all-time series, which dates back to the 1984-85 season. RMU holds a 30-21 advantage and has won 14 of the last 15 meetings. FDU's last win in the series was a 79-76 victory at Stratis Arena on Feb. 21, 2011.

Last season, the Colonials handled the Knights in both contests. In the first meeting in Moon Township, Pa. on Dec. 5, 2011, RMU won 79-50 on its home court. The Colonials shot 54.7 percent from the floor, including 69.2 percent from three-point range, while FDU shot only 28.6 percent from the floor. Pankey and Crawford each scored 11 points to lead the Knights.

At Stratis Arena on Jan. 23, 2012, RMU had no problems with FDU in a 73-49 victory. Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) led the Knights' offense with 14 points, while Livermore and Pankey added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Livermore led the team on the glass with seven rebounds.

Following the contest with Robert Morris, FDU will travel to Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. to take on St. Francis Brooklyn for a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday, Jan. 19.