Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team battled first-place Robert Morris very tough before falling, 67-58, on Monday night at Stratis Arena in Northeast Conference action. With the victory, the Colonials improve to 11-8 (7-1 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 1-18 (0-8 NEC) overall.

Senior Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) and junior Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) each scored 14 points for FDU, while freshman Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) came off the bench to add 11 points. Crawford grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and freshman Kiana Brown (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) dished out a game-high five assists to go along with nine points and a career-high five rebounds.

"I am very proud of the team," Head Coach Peter Cinella said. "We played incredibly hard for 40 minutes. Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) did a great job of pushing the tempo. Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) was a true warrior doing a great job of covering the great (Artemis) Spanou."

The biggest difference in the contest came on the boards, where RMU held a commanding 57-32 advantage, including 23-11 on the offense glass, which resulted in the Colonials holding a 20-7 lead in second-chance points.

RMU also went to the line 30 times compared to the Knights' 16 trips. The visitors made 21 free throws while FDU connected on 12 of its chances.

Crawford's baseline jumper gave the Knights an early 2-0 lead, but the Colonials responded with a 12-2 run to take a 12-4 lead at the 13:17 mark.

But FDU answered with eight straight points, as another jumper from Crawford knotted the game at 12-12.

A third jumper from Crawford gave the Knights a 16-14 advantage with 8:47 remaining before halftime. However, RMU would close out the first 20 minutes with a 16-2 run to go into the locker room leading 30-18.

At the 16:11 mark of the second half the Colonials took their largest lead of the game at 35-22.

It was FDU's turn to make a big run. Brown's layup triggered a 22-7 spurt for the Knights over the next 7:38, and Andrades' three-pointer from the left wing gave FDU a 44-42 lead with 8:05 to go.

With the score deadlocked at 46-46, RMU took the lead for good on Artemis Spanou's three-point play at the 5:45 mark, before Ashley Ravelli's three-pointer extended the visitors lead to seven at 54-47 with a little over 4:00 left.

A pair of free throws from Crawford with 1:28 remaining put FDU down five at 58-55, but the Colonials' Kelly Hartwell would convert a three-point play on their next possession to put RMU back out six.

The Knights could never get closer, as the Colonials escaped with the nine-point victory.

Spanou grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds to go along with 12 points for RMU. Anna Stamolamprou also scored 12 points, while Jolie Olingende added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

FDU will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 1 when it travels to Fairfield, Conn. to face Sacred Heart in a NEC contest slated for 2 p.m.