Brooklyn, N.Y. / Pope Center?Robert Morris University watched a 11-game win streak against St. Francis (N.Y.) come to an end with a 61-60 loss to the Terriers at the Pope Center on Monday night. The Terriers Kendra Williams knocked down a free-throw with 0.6 seconds left on the clock for the deciding points.
The Colonials, now 12-12 on the season and 8-4 in the Northeast Conference, had just four players score led by junior Monet Johnson (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Grand Street Campus (Monroe College)) and Sade Logan (Knoxville, Tenn. / South Doyle (Chattanooga State)) with 22 each. RMU's Kendra Williams (Bronx, N.Y. / Mount St. Ursula) added 11 while Latavia Vails (Odenton, Md. / Odenton (CC of Rhode Island)) chipped in with five. Johnson also had 12 rebounds, recording her 13th double-double of the season.
The Colonials kept the Terriers off the board early in the second half. Robert Morris climbed back into the game and took the lead when Kendra Williams drained a three from the right corner to put RMU up, 38-37, with just over 14 minutes to play.
From there, the team's battled back-and-forth with neither establishing a two-possession lead. Kara Ayers drained a three-pointer with 1:08 left gave the Terriers a two-point, 60-58, lead. Johnson tied the game with 31 seconds left when she cut through the lane and hit a runner.
Johnson and Logan combined for 26 of the team's 28 first half points, each scoring 13 points in the game's first 30 minutes. The Colonials pushed out to a 15-6 lead with Logan hit buckets on back-to-back possessions with 12:39 left before break. St. Francis answered with a 14-5 run, tying the game at 20-20 on a post move by Kendra Williams.
After the half's fifth tie at 26-26 with 2:28 left in the half, Vianca Tejada hit back-to-back three's followed by a Kristin Leitheuser baseline jumper that put the host Terriers up, 34-28, at the break.
St. Francis started the game 3-17 from the field, but finished by knocking down 7-12 down the stretch. Robert Morris did the opposite, starting out 6-14 before hitting just 5-19 in the last 12 minutes.
Robert Morris returns to the Charles L. Sewall Center for a televised contest against NEC leader Sacred Heart on Thursday, February 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
