Box Score

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Fairleigh Dickinson had four players score in double figures-led by Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird)'s 30-and converted 21-of-30 from the free throw to hand Robert Morris its first league loss, 83-68, on Saturday afternoon.

The win is the first for Fairleigh Dickinson (5-13, 2-3 NEC) at Robert Morris (10-6, 4-1 NEC) since the 2012-13 season. The Colonials had won the last five against the Knights.

Cruz went (9-of-13) 4-of-4 from three-point range and 8-of-8 from the free throw line to score those 30 in 23 minutes of action. Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) had 17 points and nine rebounds-including her 1,000 of her career. Brianna Thomas (Baldwin, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) had her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds-all defensive-and added five assists and Kiana Brown (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) had 11 points and six assists.

"To win on the road in a place where we have had trouble over the years took an incredible team effort", said head coach Peter Cinella. "So proud of the team with how they played today. We played all four quarters and answered each of Robert Morris' runs."

"One play that stands out was [Kiana] Brown finished the third with a layup at the end of third and Erika [Livermore's] rebounding. Anastasia [Williams] was big in the fourth and Kelsey [Cruz] played one of her best games."

After being tied at 29 at the half, the Knights turned a 37-36 deficit into a 48-37 lead in less than two minutes. Thomas had five during the run and Livermore had five also.

The Colonials cut the lead to six with 19 seconds to play in the third but Brown drove the length of the court and hit a layup to move the lead back to eight, 54-46, heading into the fourth.

Robert Morris, who went 0-for-10 from three in the first half, hit back-to-back three-pointers via Ana Nikki Stamolamprou to cut the Knight lead to two, 54-52, with 8:48 to play. Another three by the Colonials would tie the score at 55 and 60 before the Knights would take the lead for good.

Cruz scored in transition as did Brown to make it a four-point game, 64-60, with 5:15 to play. Anastasia Williams (Central Islip, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) scored five straight points-two buckets and a free throw-to give Fairleigh Dickinson a 69-60 lead with 3:18 to play. Williams also pulled down nine rebounds.

Baskets by Cruz, Brown and Livermore pushed the lead to 13, 75-62 at the 1:30 mark. Free throws from Madelynn Comly (Littlestown, Pa./Delone Catholic)-only two points of the game-and Cruz put the game out of reach in the final minute.

The Knights turn their attention to a road game at Saint Francis U on Monday. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in Loretto, Pennsylvania.