Cincinnati, Ohio / Fifth Third Arena-The Robert Morris University women's basketball recovered from a slow start to put a scare into Big East member Cincinnati before bowing to the Bearcats, 65-50, at Fifth Third Arena Sunday afternoon. The Colonials outscored the Bearcats, 32-26, in the second half but ultimately fell to 0-3 while Cincinnati stays perfect at 3-0.
Junior center Mary Durojaye (London, England / British National U-20) recorded her second double-double year with 14 points and 10 boards. She was 6-of-9 from the field and pulled down seven rebounds on the offensive glass. Freshman Artemis Spanou (Rhodes, Greece / Greek National Team) was the only other Colonial in double figures, tacking on 11 points.
The Bearcats scored on their opening possession while jumping out to an 11-1 lead with five points from Kayla Cook. The Colonials tallied their first field goal 3:26 into the game as senior Yohanna Morton (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic / Dominican National Team) slashed to the basket for a lay-up.
The Bearcats held on to the lead while Durojaye did her best to keep RMU in the game. The junior forward tallied seven of the team's first nine points while the Colonials struggled as a team to shoot. Robert Morris shot 29.6 percent (8-27) from the floor in the first half while the Bearcats torched the nets to the tune of 53.6 percent (15-28) en route to a 39-18 halftime lead.
Morton, who hit a half-court heave at the buzzer, and Durojaye combined to go 7-13 from the floor while the rest of the Colonials line-up was 1-of-14 (7.1 percent).
Robert Morris was held scoreless through the first three minutes of the second half before mounting a run. The Colonials held the Bearcats scoreless for 5:21 during the second half, fueling a 16-3 run that saw RMU cut the lead to 15 points when senior Destiny Harrison (Niagara Falls, N.Y. / Niagara Falls) splashed a three-pointer from the right corner with 9:11 left to play.
RMU, however, would go scoreless over the next three minutes as Cook tallied five straight for the Bearcats. Cincinnati would ride that wave out over the final six minutes to win the contest, 65-50. Robert Morris outscored their counterpart, 32-26, in the second half, capping the game with a positive spin.
Kayla Cook led three Bearcat players in double figures, scoring 15 points highlighted by a 3-of-5 game from three-point range. Chanel Chisolm added 13 points and Tiffany Turner had 10.
Robert Morris shot 31.1 percent (19-61) for the game, 6-of-29 (20.7 percent) from three-point range. RMU held Cincinnati to 30.4 percent in the second half as the Bearcats finished at 43.1 percent (22-51) overall and 36.8 percent (7-19) from long range.
Robert Morris finishes its two-game swing through Ohio by traveling to Kent State for a 7:00 p.m. game Tuesday, Nov. 23.
