Tame The Terriers
ROBERT MORRIS COLONIALS vs. ST. FRANCIS (N.Y.) TERRIERS
Saturday, January 22, 2011 - 4:00 p.m.
Moon Township, Pa. - Charles L. Sewall Center
Internet: www.rmucolonials.com
Adam Gusky, play-by-play, Matt Kirk, color

The Game
The Robert Morris University Colonials (9-7, 6-0 NEC) put their 18-game conference win streak on the line Saturday by hosting the St. Francis (N.Y.) Terriers (2-15, 0-6 NEC) in a 4:00 p.m. contest at the Charles L. Sewall Center. The Colonials are all alone atop the Northeast Conference standings while tying their best ever start in league play. The first-place position is a familiar one for RMU - they have held the top spot for all but five days in the last two seasons. Robert Morris has won 23 of its last 24 conference games. The Terriers have lost six consecutive games and are winless in NEC games.

Musket Shots

• Freshman Artemis Spanou is the Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week for the third consecutive week and fifth time this season
• Spanou is averaging a double-double, 12.8 points and 10.7 rebounds, in NEC games
• Robert Morris has won 18 consecutive conference games and 23 of its last 24
• The Colonials have matched their best start in conference games, 6-0, set by the 2005-06 team
• Since 2004-05, RMU is 48-8 (.857) at home in conference games
• Robert Morris is outrebounding conference opponents by 15.0 boards per game
• The Colonials are averaging twice as many points in paint, 36.0, than conference foes, 18.0
• RMU has reached the 20-win plateau in five of the last six seasons

Consecutive Regular Season Conference Wins
Dating back to Jan. 21 of last season, the Colonials have won 18 consecutive Northeast Conference games during the regular season. The streak is the best in team history, and, coincidentally, both streaks started against Fairleigh Dickinson..Robert Morris has also tied the team record for best start, matching the 6-0 open of the 2005-06 team.

All-Time Series vs. St. Francis (N.Y.)
The Colonials have more wins against St. Francis (N.Y.) than any other conference opponent, leading the all-time series, 36-14. RMU has won 13 of the last 14 meetings dating back to the 2005-06 season. The Colonials are 15-9 at the Pope Center and 21-5 at the Sewall Center.

Scouting the Terriers
St. Francis has dropped six consecutive contests dating back to Jan. 2. The Terriers are scoring 46.9 points a game while shooting 34.9 percent overall and 28.3 percent from three-point range. They are allowing 64.1 points with opponents converting at just over 40 percent against them. Autumn Lau tops the team in scoring and rebounding at 12.2 points and 5.6 rebounds. Jasmin Robinson and Amber Lau chip in 6.9 and 6.1 points each.

Painting Them Into a Corner
Robert Morris has dominated the paint in conference games this season, averaging 36.0 points in the paint against NEC foes. Defensively, the Colonials are giving up just 18.0 points in the paint. RMU attempts just over 11 three-point attempts compared to over 22 by their league opponents.

Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week
Spanou averaged 12.0 points and 12.0 rebounds while leading the Colonials to home victories against Monmouth and Fairleigh Dickinson. She opened the week by scoring 14 points, on 6-for-11 shooting, and securing 12 boards in RMU's 69-56 win over Monmouth. The 6-foot forward turned in 10 points and 12 rebounds to help Robert Morris remain unbeaten in NEC play with a win over FDU. Spanou, who has recorded double-doubles in three of RMU's six league wins, is averaging 13.0 points and 11.0 rebounds during NEC play this month.

Consecutive Regular Season Conference Wins
Dating back to Jan. 21 of last season, the Colonials have won 18 consecutive Northeast Conference games during the regular season. The mark ties the previous best streak that carried from the 2007-08 season into the first five games of 2008-09. Coincidentally, both streaks started against Fairleigh Dickinson.

Best Conference Starts
The Colonials 6-0 start this season matches the 2009-10 start for the best in team history. The 2005-06 squad began 6-0 in conference while the 2004-05 and 2006-07 teams were 4-0 at the outset of NEC play.

Comfy Confines In Conference
Robert Morris is very comfortable at the Chuck against NEC teams. Dating back to the 2004-05 season, head coach Sal Buscaglia's second season in Moon Township, RMU is 48-8 at home against league teams. The 2005-06 team won all nine conference home games.

NEC Glass Company
Robert Morris has dominated the glass in NEC games, averaging 14.7 more rebounds than their conference counterparts so far. The Colonials are corralling an average of 44.5 rebounds a game led by Artemis Spanou and Mary Durojaye who average 10.7 and 7.7, respectively.

Stacked Starters Stats
The starting five for Robert Morris have accounted for 90 percent of the team's scoring, averaging over 54.5 of the team's 60.3 points per game.