Kent, Ohio / MAC Center-Freshman Artemis Spanou (Rhodes, Greece / Greek National Team) and senior Yohanna Morton (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) combined to score the final 19 points for Robert Morris University as a furious comeback effort over the final three minutes fell short in a 66-60 loss in women's basketball action at Kent State Wednesday night. The Colonials slip to 4-7 on the year. Kent State nearly had their 10-game home winning streak snapped by RMU, but ultimately improved to 9-2 on the year and stretched the streak to 11 games.
Spanou went off in the second half, drilling all six of her three-point efforts to finish with a career-high 22 points. She finished the game 8-of-15 from the field, 6-of-8 from three-point range and added four steals. Morton finished with 16 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Trailing 60-46 with 3:22 left, RMU mounted a furious comeback as Morton capped off an "and-one" play and Spanou drilled two three-pointers to cut the margin to 60-55 with 53 seconds left. The Colonials continued to fight as Morton finished off a three-point play, then got a driving lay-in to cut the lead to 62-60 with 19 seconds left to end a 17-4 RMU run. A pair of freebies by Taisja Jones pushed the lead back out to four points and then RMU turned the ball over on the next possession. Two more free throws by Stephanie Jones iced the game, 66-60.
The Golden Flashes had five players reach double-digits led by 16 points from Tamzin Barroilhet. Jones tacked on 13 and Gibson ended the game with 12 points.
Trailing early, Robert Morris used a 7-0 run to take a 9-4 lead when Kristine Silaraja (Ventspils, Latvia / Barton County CC) hit a three from the left corner with 15:07 left. The Golden Flashes responded with the next five points to knot the game at 9-9.
Robert Morris held a 13-12 lead when freshman Kelly Hartwell (Woodbridge, Va. / Gar-Field) hit a baseline jumper with 10-48 left in the half. Kent State tehn went on a 15-2 run highlighted back-to-back three-pointers from Jones and Barroilhet that left the Golden Flashes leading, 27-15. Consecutive baskets by Destiny Harrison (Niagara Falls, N.Y. / Niagara Falls) cut the margin back to eight points before the halftime buzzer sounded with the host squad holding a 32-22 lead.
RMU committed 13 first-half turnovers, including four offensive fouls, that Kent State capitalized on to turn into 15 first half points. RMU shot just over 39 percent in the half while the Golden Flashes converted at just under 45 percent, including 5-of-12 from three-point range.
A Mary Durojaye (London, England / English National U-20 Team) putback cut the margin to 38-31, capping a 6-0 Robert Morris run. Four points from Humes was part of six unanswered points by Kent State that stretched the lead back to 13 points as they pushed the margin to as many as 16 points, 52-36, with 6:54 left to play.
RMU shot 50 percent in the second half to finish the game at just over 45 percent (23-51). Kent State hit 41 percent in the second half to end at 43 percent (24-56) for the game.
Robert Morris will spend New Year's Day in Baltimore, Md., before taking on the Coppin State Eagles Sunday, Jan. 2, in a 3:00 p.m.
