West Long Branch, N.J. - The Robert Morris University women's basketball team shot 52.6% from the field on their way to improving to 13-6 overall and 7-2 in the NEC, Saturday afternoon in West Long Branch, N.J. The Colonials defeated Northeast Conference opponent Monmouth (11-8 / 4-4), 81-72. “We played very had this afternoon,” said Buscaglia. “After losing two of our last four games we really took a new approach to the game, and went back to the basics. Doing that has really paid off the last two games.”
Lindsey Zegowitz scored the first points of the game for the Hawks, 1:14 into the game, but Monmouth would allow the Colonials to take a 12-2 lead via a 12-0 run which saw RMU not allow the Hawks over the half court line on two straight trips up the floor. The run was capped off by a Jenna Burkett (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) three-pointer, giving her five points over the 12-point run, at the 16:47 mark of the first half. Chinata Nesbit (Washington, D.C. / Chipola J.C.) scored four points, while Sugeiry Monsac (Villa Maria, Dom. Rep. / Arizona Western J.C.) chipped in two points of her own during the RMU run.
Monmouth cut the lead back down to two-points at the 11:35 mark of the half after a LaKia Barber jumper making the score 19-17 in favor of the Colonials. RMU then scored seven straight points upping its lead to nine, 28-17, after a Psyche Butler (Fort Worth, Texas / New Mexico J.C.) jumper.
The Colonial lead reached 12 after a Natasha Summerville (Arlington, Texas / Frank Phillips C.C.) jumper at the 7:16 mark, but Monmouth outscored the Colonials 13-4 over the remainder of the half cutting the RMU lead to three, 37-34, at halftime.
The Colonials allowed the Hawks to take two early first half leads, with the last coming at the 15:54 mark, when Jennifer Bender made a free throw, making the score 43-42. The Colonials then used a 6-0 run to take a five point advantage after a Crystal Champion (Washington, D.C. / Marshall) lay up with 13:11 left in the half, making the score 48-43.
After two Brianne Edwards free throws, pulling Monmouth to within one point, RMU began to pull away. The Colonials lead hit double-digits for the first time with a Summerville lay up, making the score 62-52 with 8:37 remaining in the second half.
RMU extended its lead to a game high 13-points when Nesbit hit 1-of-2 free throws making the score 67-54 at the 6:59 mark. The Hawks battled back to-get-to within six points with 4:48 remaining, after a Rachel Ferdinand free throw. The Colonials would not allow the Hawks to get any closer as Butler and Nesbit made clutch free throws down the stretch to give the Colonials a nine point, 81-72 victory.
Nesbit lead RMU with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Champion scored 20 points. Champion shot 7-of-8 from the field, including a perfect 1-for-1 from beyond the three-point arc. Bender tallied a double-double for the Hawks with 24 points and 11 rebounds. The Colonials do not return to action until next Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, when they host in-state rival Saint Francis (Pa.).
Notes: For the game RMU shot 52.6% (30-of-57) from the field, including 28.6% (4-of-14) from beyond the three-point arc. The Colonials also made 63% (17-of-27) of their free throws. Monmouth shot 47.2% (25-of-53) from the field, including 33.3% (3-of-9) from beyond the three-point arc. The Hawks also made 65.5% (19-of-29) of their free throws. With today's victory, the Colonials extended their winning streak to two games.
