Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team defeated Robert Morris, 80-68, Monday afternoon at Stratis Arena in a Northeast Conference tilt. With the victory, the Knights improve to 8-7 (3-1 NEC) on the season, while the Colonials fall to 3-12 (2-2 NEC) overall.

FDU put together its best offensive game of the season, connecting on a season-best 46.7 percent (28-of-60) of its shots. The Knights tallied season highs in field goals made (28), three-point field goals made (9-of-24) and assists (21), while tying their season best in blocks with six.

The FDU defense held RMU to only 34.8 percent (24-of-69)  shooting from the field and 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from three-point range. Both teams turned the ball over 15 times, while the Knights won the rebounding battle, 42-38.

Redshirt junior Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) led the Knights with her third double-double of the season and of her career. She scored a game-high 22 points, including 18 after halftime, grabbed 10 rebounds to tie her career high and dished out a season-high five assists, while going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.

Sophomore Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) picked up her 12th double-double in 15 contests with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while fellow classmate Stephanie Isaacs (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) added a career-high 17 points on a career-best five made three's. Sophomore Miah Register (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) dished out a career-high six assists and registered a game-high three steals.

Leading 11-10, Isaacs' three from the left wing followed by a pair of fast-break layups from Pankey gave FDU an 18-10 lead with 10:05 to go before halftime.

The Colonials answered with six of the next nine points to cut the lead to 21-19, but a three ball from sophomore point guard Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) put the Knights back up six at 28-22 with 4:40 remaining in the first half.

RMU responded by closing the half on a 10-2 run to go into halftime up 32-30.

The run eventually became a 14-2 spurt as the Colonials scored the first four points of the second half to take their largest lead of the game, 36-30, nearly 90 seconds after halftime.

A three by Isaacs and five points from Pankey tied the game at 38 thanks to an 8-2 run, and after a bucket by RMU to put them back ahead, Isaacs drilled a three from the right wing to give FDU the lead for good at 41-40 with 14:59 left in the game.

The Knights eventually outscored the Colonials, 19-6, to take a 57-46 lead on Livermore's layup with 9:25 to go.

RMU scored five straight points to cut the lead to 57-51, but that was the closest it would get as a Livermore layup with 5:11 remaining put FDU up double digits for the rest of the contest at 64-54.

The Knights took their largest lead of the game, 78-63, with 37 ticks left on the clock before clinching the 80-68 victory.

“I am really proud of the team, our best all-around effort of the season,” Head Coach Peter Cinella said. Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) (eight points, five rebounds, three blocks) did a great job leading the defense, and we moved the ball very well today.”

“Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) , Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) (five assists) and Miah Register (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) really found the open man, and Stephanie Isaacs (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) was huge for us to get 80 points against a really tough zone.” Cinella said. “RMU has some really tremendous players, but we were able to battle them for 40 minutes.”

The Colonials' Artemis Spanou, the NCAA's leading rebounder (14.5 rpg), tallied 18 points, 13 rebounds and four assists to lead the visitors. Ashley Ravelli added 18 points and four assists, while Lou Mataly chipped in 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

FDU will return to NEC action on Saturday, Jan. 19 when they travel to Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. to take on St. Francis Brooklyn at 2 p.m.