Box Score HACKENSACK, N.J. - Fairleigh Dickinson outscored Robert Morris 23-3 in the fourth quarter and came back from trailing after three quarters for the first time this season to earn the 60-52 win on Saturday afternoon.
The win gives the Knights a season sweep of the Colonials for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) finished with 23 points (8-of-19), including 17 in the fourth quarter.
"(I am) Very proud of the team. Robert Morris brought their 'A' game and led the game for 36 minutes. Our defensive intensity in the fourth was tremendous", said head coach
Peter Cinella after the game. "It was a great team effort but, in particular, Penny and Amina were awesome on the defensive end. Cruz hit some very difficult shots the stretch and you have to like the overall game from Madelynn (Comly)."
Fairleigh Dickinson (10-16, 7-6 NEC) trailed 49-37 heading into the final stanza. The Knights then started the quarter fast with seven straight points to cut the Robert Morris (14-10, 8-5 NEC) lead to 49-44 with 6:44 to play.
Amina Markovic (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood) hit a jumper, Peniel M'bikata had two points and Cruz converted a three-point play.
The Colonials would answer with their only field goal of the quarter when Mikalah Mulrain hit a jumper from the top of the key to make it 51-44 Robert Morris with 6:19 to play.
Cruz hit a three-pointer (5-of-5) -- to cap a personal 7-0 run -- that tied the score at 51 with 4:16 remaining.
Mulrain hit a free throw to give Robert Morris the lead back at 52-51 with 3:26 to play. It would be the last points for Robert Morris on the afternoon.
Cruz hit another three-pointer to give the Knights the lead for good with 1:18 on the clock 54-52. Two free throws from Markovic and four from Cruz in the final 23 seconds sealed the win for Fairleigh Dickinson.
Cruz added four steals and three rebounds to her 23 points.
Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) finished with 12 points -- all in the first half -- and seven rebounds.
Madelynn Comly (Littlestown, Pa./Delone Catholic) scored six points, pulled down eight rebounds -- a career-high -- and had a steal. Markovic finished with four points, four rebounds and two blocks.
Anastasia Williams (Central Islip, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) grabbed seven rebounds, added two points and a block off the bench.
Fairleigh Dickinson held Robert Morris to 4-of-24 (16%) from three-point range and 20-of-67 (29%) from the field. The Colonials' backcourt of Ashley Ravelli, Lou Mataly and Ana Niki Stamolamprou were a combined 7-of-34 (21%) on the afternoon, including 3-of-18 from behind the arc.
"Our ball pressure in man to man and zone was good today. They did not get any good looks [from three-point range]", continued Cinella.
The Knights return to action on Monday when they travel to Mount St. Mary's for a 7 p.m. tip in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Knights will be seeking the season sweep of the Mountaineers.
