Des Moines, Iowa / Wells Fargo Arena?The #15 seed Robert Morris University women's basketball team watched their 2007-08 season come to a close with a 85-42 loss to #2 seed and seventh-ranked Rutgers University at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, in the Greensboro Region of the 2008 NCAA Basketball Championship. The Colonials end the season with a 23-10 record, their fourth-consecutive 20-win season, while the Scarlet Knights improve to 25-6 and advance to play #7 seed Iowa State Monday.
“We played an outstanding Rutgers team. A team that is one of the premier programs in the country,” said RMU head coach Sal Buscaglia. “We just didn't get it done today. Our kids worked hard and I am proud of what our kids accomplished. We do the best with what we have and I'm proud of what we have done this year.”
Junior guard Sade Logan (Knoxville, Tenn. / Chattanooga State JC) tied the NCAA record for three-pointers in a season hitting two three-pointers in the game hitting in 126 this season. She finished the game with 10 points. Logan tied the mark set by Lisa McMullen from Alabama State in 1991.
RMU shot a season-low 20.0 percent, going 12-of-60 from the field and 5-of-24 from long range. Rutgers, meanwhile, shot 54.8 percent from the field including 56.3 percent from three-point range. They got a double-double from Kia Vaughn who had a game-high 22 points and had 11 rebounds. Epiphanny Prince added 21 points.
Junior guard Kendra Williams (Bronx, N.Y. / Mount St. Ursula) led Robert Morris with 11 points. Senior guard Psyche Butler (Fort Worth, Texas / New Mexico JC) added nine points while senior forward Chinata Nesbit (Washington, D.C. / Chipola JC) had a team-high 11 rebounds.
Rutgers got off to a hot start, winning the tip and hitting a three-ball from the corner by Epiphanny Prince. Kia Vaughn got a layup and then Matee Ajavon hit a 17-foot jumper to take a 7-0 lead just two minutes into the game. After a pair of Butler free throws, the Scarlet Knights went on an 8-0 run taking a 15-2 lead with 14:45 left in the half.
After missing their first seven field goal attempts, Pace gave RMU their first basket of the game 14:11 hitting a runner in the lane. Kendra Williams drilled a three on the next possession only to see Prince answer. A long Logan jumper cut the margin to 18-9.
Butler hit one free-throw with 9:11 left in the first half to make it a 27-16 game. The Colonials next basket did not come for 6:23 during which Rutgers went on a 12-0 run taking the lead out to 39-16.
Rutgers finished the first half shooting 61.8 percent and hit 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) three-pointers to take a 48-21 lead into the break. Robert Morris shot 29.6 percent and were 2-of-10 from long range.
