Moon Township, Pa. / Charles L. Sewall Center?For the second straight game, the Robert Morris University women's basketball team watched its opponent sink late free throws to overcome the Colonials. On Thursday night, it was Sacred Heart's Alisa Apo who buried two freebies to turn a two-point deficit into a one-point lead and propel the Pioneers to their 13th straight win, 61-60, at the Charles L. Sewall Center. Sacred Heart improves to 17-7 and 14-0 in the NEC while Robert Morris slips to 12-13 and 8-5 in conference play.
With the game tied at 57 and 2:40 left in regulation, neither team could score over the next two minutes. Robert Morris senior forward Grace Williams (Baxley, Ga. / Appling County (Frank Phillips)) scored the contests next point when she went to the free throw line and buried the first of a two shot opportunity with 41 seconds left. Junior forward Monet Johnson (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Grand Street Campus (Monroe College)) grabbed the offensive board after the second missed free throw, her 10th board of the game, but missed with her put back attempt.
On the other end, Apo drove to the basket and drew a foul after missing on the short jump shot attempt. Apo buried both free throws to turn the game in the Pioneers favor, 59-58. After a RMU turnover, Apo again found herself at the line, and again made both shots giving her 18 for the game and Sacred Heart a three-point lead with five seconds left in regulation. Freshman Mary Durojaye (London, England / Barking Abbey) converted on a layup on the other end, but the Colonials would not get another possession, falling 61-60.
St. Francis (N.Y.) beat the Colonials by the same score Monday night when the Terriers own Kendra Williams hit a free-throw with 0.6 seconds left to break a 60-60 tie.
Senior guard Sade Logan (Knoxville, Tenn. / South Doyle (Chattanooga State)) finished the game with 26 points going 9-26 from the field. Johnson posted her fourth straight double-double and 14th of the season, posting 14 points and 10 rebounds. She also had a career-high seven assists and three steals.
Callan Taylor tied Apo for team-high honors with 18 points and recorded a double-double by pulling down 10 caroms. Kaitlin Sowinski tacked on 13 points for the visiting Pioneers.
Sacred Heart outshot the host Colonials, 44.4 percent to 39.7 percent, and had the advantage on the glass, 39-31. The Pioneers were 8-of-11 from the charity stripe while Robert Morris hit 10-of-16.
Robert Morris returns to action on Saturday, February 14, when they host Quinnipiac in a 4:00 p.m. tip-off at the Sewall Center.
