Smithfield, R.I. / Chace Athletic Center-The Robert Morris University women's basketball team watched a 20-point second half lead disappear, but ultimately came out victorious at Bryant University, 74-72, on Saturday afternoon. The Colonials hold on to first place in the Northeast Conference, improving to 18-7 overall and 13-1 in conference play while stretching their win streak to eight games. Bryant slips to 11-14 and 8-6 in league play.

With the game tied, 72-72, and 36 seconds left in regulation, Robert Morris senior Angela Pace (Westchester, N.Y. / Woodlands (Monroe College)) took the ball and patiently dribbled down the clock. As the shot clock drained to 10 seconds, Pace drove right, penetrated to the baseline where she was net by a Bulldogs double-team. The senior elevated and shot over the double, draining the 10 footer and giving Robert Morris the lead and win with 8.2 seconds left to play.

Freshman Vega Gimeno-Martinez (Valencia, Spain / Spanish National U-20) topped the Colonials with 18 points and four steal, including a key late game swipe. She also had four rebounds for a squad that was outboarded, 41-28. Junior Destiny Harrison (Niagara Falls, N.Y. / Niagara Falls) finished with 12 points. Junior Bianca Hooten (Canton, Ohio / Canton-McKinley (Bowling Green)) added 11 points and team-best five rebounds while Pace finished the contest with 10 points.

The second half turned into the Kelsey O'Keefe show as the senior forward found her stroke. O'Keefe scored the team's first 15 points of the second half, helping the Bulldogs cut the Robert Morris lead to nine points, 63-54, with 10:08 left to play. The senior forward continued to lead Bryant back as they eventually tied the game, 67-67, with a Brittany Stahura layup with 4:03 left.

The Colonials tallied the next five points with a steal and lay-in by Pace just moments before a Gimeno three-ball from the corner. O'Keefe answered with a trey on the next possession. An empty RMU trip was followed by a pair of freebies by Lekia Cowen, tying the game again at 72 with 2:35 showing.

Trailing 20-14 with 12:34 left in the first half, the Colonials went to the bench to mount a 15-1 run. Every point during that march came from substitutes as the RMU bench outscored Bryant, 25-7, in the first half. Harrison had six and Hooten added five during the run that ended with the Colonials holding a 29-21 lead. The Bulldogs ended a 4:36 scoring drought when Kristin Mraz hit one of three first-half three-pointers with 6:31 to play.

The Colonials went on to finish the half shooting 46.9 percent (15-32), 66.7 percent (4-6) from three-point range and 15-of-18 (83.3 percent) from the charity strip to end the half leading, 49-35.

O'Keefe finished the game with 33 points on 11-of-22 shooting, including an 8-of-14 show from three-point range. Mraz added 14 points for the host Bulldogs.

Robert Morris finished the game shooting 44.4 percent (24-54), 38.9 percent (7-18) on three-balls and 86.4 percent (19-22) on free throws. Bryant hit at a 39.0 percent (23-59) clip that included 14 three-pointers on 33 attempts.