MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Junior
Lauren Francillon poured in a career-high 20 points and made four three-pointers, but the Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team fell on the road to Northeast Conference rival Robert Morris, 71-49.
The Mountain Lake Park, Md., native shot 6-of-13 overall from the floor but connected on a career-best four deep balls and made all four of her foul shots as well. Francillon also led the team with eight rebounds. Francillon scored 16 of her 20 points and hit all four three-pointers in the second half, helping the Knights (3-10, 0-2 NEC) outscore the Colonials 38-31 in the final 20 minutes.
The Colonials (5-8, 2-0 NEC) benefited from a strong first-half, entering halftime up 40-11, going 41 percent from the floor and 6-of-12 from beyond the arc in the early half. The Knights shot over 40 percent from deep (9-of-22) for the first time this season but shot 31.9 percent from the floor overall. Robert Morris had the advantage on the glass (43-34) and won the turnover battle, 18-10.
Senior
Madelynn Comly also scored in double figures for the Knights, finishing with a season-high 14 points and four rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench, making 3-of-5 three-point tries. Comly has reached double-figure point totals in back-to-back NEC games after starting the season with only one game scoring 10 points in non-conference play.
"We played a strong second half," head coach
Peter Cinella said after the game. "We did a good job of finding the open man and shot the ball well, hitting eight threes in the second half. We tried to cut [the margin] down more but we allowed too many drives middle. Obviously, Lauren is really stepping up and playing well for us."
Junior
Jenna Clark opened the scoring for the Knights with a short jumper, but the Colonials responded with a big run to take the early lead. The Knights missed their next nine shots from the floor as Robert Morris forced nine FDU turnovers in the opening period.
Francillon ended the RMU run with two hook shots to start the second period, and Comly later connected on a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 12. The Colonials then responded with another extended run before junior
Elise Graham ended it with a layup.
RMU entered halftime ahead 40-11 and pushed the margin to 30. Clark and senior
Peniel M'Bikata each hit three-pointers in helping the Knights make four of their next five shots, with Francillon joining in on the attack with a three of her own to make it 47-22.
Comly then hit another three and then finished an offensive rebound, and Francillon drained her second triple to make it 51-30. The junior was then fouled while gathering a rebound and hit two free throws to bring the deficit down to 19.
The Colonials, however, responded with nine straight points to end the third period up 60-32 and increased their advantage in the fourth period despite Francillion hitting two more triples to start the final period.
Francillon reached 20 points by making two free throws late in the fourth period.
Despite not scoring in the game, senior
Natalie Zamora filled up the stat sheet otherwise, grabbing six rebounds, dishing out five assists and recording three steals to go with a block.
The Colonials were led by Nneka Ezeigbo, who finished with a double-double of 13 points, 12 rebounds in 22 minutes.
FDU returns home for its next NEC contest on Saturday, January 12, taking on Central Connecticut State at 2 p.m., in the Rothman Center.
"We got to do a better job defending and coming out with a stronger mentality," Cinella continued. "But we're glad we'll be at home, and we got to get the W."
