Moon Township, Pa. / Sewall Center-The Robert Morris University women's basketball team watched a 13-point second half lead disappear in a 51-50 loss to Monmouth University at the Charles L. Sewall Center on Saturday afternoon. Prior to this season, the Colonials (10-7, 5-1 Northeast Conference) never played more than two one-point games in a season.
For the fourth time in their last six games, the Colonials had the contest come down to the game's final possession. Freshman Vega Gimeno-Martinez (Valencia, Spain / Spanish National U-20) gave RMU the lead, 50-49, when she sank a pair of free throws with eight seconds left in regulation.
On the ensuing possession, the Hawks (8-9, 3-3 NEC) took the ball out of bounds deep in the offensive zone with 3.7 seconds showing. Carly Thibault got the ball in the corner before she was triple-teamed. That, however, left Chanel Gomez wide open under the basket and Thibault fed her for the layup and the win with 0.7 seconds left on the clock.
Sophomore forward Mary Durojaye (London, England / English National U-20) recorded her second consecutive double-double and third of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds, both team-highs. Gimeno and Monica Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Woodland Hills (Howard College)) each added nine points. Senior Angela Pace (Westchester, N.Y. / Woodlands (Monroe College)) failed to reach double-digits for the first time this season, finishing with eight points.
Carrying a three-point lead out of halftime, RMU used an early second half run sparked by an old-fashioned three-point play by Gimeno to break open a five-point lead. The play started a 10-2 run that found the Colonials leading 36-23 on a Pace jumper with 13:39 left in the contest.
The lead would dwindle to seven points before Jones hit a three to push the lead to 10 points. That field goal with exactly 10 minutes left to play would be the Colonials last until Pace hit a short jumper with 56 seconds showing.
While Robert Morris struggled with its offense, Monmouth finished the game on a 20-9 run. Three-pointers by Alysha Womack and Thibault in the final 20 seconds gave the Hawks the lead, 49-48. Gimeno's two freebies briefly gave Robert Morris the lead, 50-49.
Neither team could find a steady flow in the first 20 minutes, combining to shoot just 15-54. Robert Morris held a 20-17 lead at the break.
Gabby Singer finished with 11 points and seven rebounds for Monmouth and Thibault added 10 points.
Robert Morris travels to Fairleigh Dickinson for a 5:00 p.m. game against the Knights on Thursday, January 21.
