HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team will seek its first win of the season against Robert Morris Saturday when the Knights head to Moon Township, Pa. for a 1 p.m. clash with the Colonials. FDU will then head ot Loretto, Pa. for a Monday evening clash with Saint Francis U at 6 p.m. Both games will be available via live stream on NEC Front Row.
QUICK HITTERS
The Knights took down Wagner 62-61 on Monday night at Stratis Arena, erasing an 11-point third quarter lead to come from behind and earn the win. It was the first win of the season for FDU in a game in which they trailed at the half.
The Knights are 6-4 on the road this season, including a 4-2 mark against NEC opponents.
FDU will look to deal Robert Morris its first home NEC Conference loss of the season when they head to the North Athletic Complex on Saturday. RMU has lost at home just twice all season, a 64-62 OT loss to Bowling Green on November 16
th and a 46-31 defeat against Kent State on December 19
th.
The Knights went 5-16 (31.1%) from beyond the three point line in Monday's win after going a combined 3-28 (10.7%) in its two previous contests against Mount St. Mary's and Central Connecticut.
SERIES SCORE
Saturday afternoon will be the 65th all-time meeting between th Knights and the Colonials, with Robert Morris holding an edge in wins at 40-24. Robert Morris defeated FDU in their first matchup this season, a 77-68 win back on December 29
th. FDU's last win over Robert Morris came back in the 2015-16 season, a 60-52 victory at the Rothman Center. The Knights are 10-23 all-time at the North Athletic Complex.
FDU is 22-40 all time against SFU, with its last win in Loretto coming during the 2014-15 season. The Knights last victory over the Red Flash was a 73-72 win in 2016.
LAST TIME OUT
The Knights earned their 15
th win overall on the season and ninth home win by taking down Wagner on Monday.
Courtney Blankenship's three-point shot with 29 seconds remaining in the game proved to be the game winner, as the Knights erased a second-half deficit to earn a win for the first time during the 2017-18 campaign.
Amina Markovic led the Knights in scoring with 20 points, adding six boards as well as an assist. Blankenship (13) and
Elise Graham (11) also scored in the double-digits, the third time in the last five games in which FDU has had at least three players hit double-digits in scoring.
Madelynn Comly and Graham each hit clutch three-pointers in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter to narrow Wagner's lead and set up Blankenships' eventual game-winner.
ABOUT ROBERT MORRIS
The Colonials enter Saturday's game at 17-6 overall, including a 10-2 mark in conference play. Robert Morris is currently second overall in the NEC Conference standings, behind only one-loss Saint Francis U. RMU is also coming off of a loss in their most recent game, falling 49-47 at St. Francis Brooklyn on Monday. Despite having lost two of their previous three matchups, the Colonials still rank at or near the top of the conference in a number of statistical categories. Robert Morris is currently first in scoring defense (54.5), scoring margin (+7.6), field goal percentage defense (.352), and rebounding defense (34.6). RMU freshman guard Honoka Ikematsu leads the NEC in three-point field goal percentage, going 46-107 (.430) in 23 games this season.
ABOUT SAINT FRANCIS
The Red Flash currently occupy the top overall spot in the NEC, with an overall record of 16-8 and an NEC mark of 11-1. The Red Flash are currently riding a seven-game win streak, and have not been beaten at home since losing 92-86 against the College of William and Mary way back on December 2nd. Robert Morris will serve as excellent prep for Monday's clash against the Red Flash, as SFU leads the most potent offense in the conference, averaging an impressive 80.9 points per game. The Saint Francis roster also features the top scorer in the NEC in Jessica Kovatch (24.0 PPG), as well as two of the top rebounders in Kyasia Duling (6.4) and Ace Harrison (7.0).
