Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's rowing team opened its 2011-12 season Saturday by hosting its first ever meet, the Robert Morris Invitational at Glenwillard Boat Club in Glenwillard, Pa.

In blustery and cold conditions, the RMU women's varsity 8+ finished fourth, three minutes and six seconds behind Duquesne's winning boat. Finishing second was Pitt, 12 seconds off the pace, while Duquesne's "B" boat notched third, a minute and three seconds off the leader.

The boat saw senior Chelsea Thornton (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Carrick) serve as coxswain and featured juniors Gretchen Gailey (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area), Bridget Bohonek (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park), Ashley Wright (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine-Richland) and Mackenzie Chambers (Auburn Hills, Mich. / Berkley), sophomores Carley Padgett (Baden, Pa. / Eden Christian Academy), Kimberly Gojmerac (Johnstown, Pa. / Greater Johnstown) and Megan Coleman (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Northgate) and freshman Julie Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Catholic). 

Due to the conditions, the women's novice 4+ and the varsity 4+ were combined and won its race against Pitt and Carngie Mellon by two minutes and 26 seconds.

Junior Jamie Witsch (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Catholic) served as coxswain for a boat that featured Gailey, junior Caitlin Mullin (Irwin, Pa. / Penn-Trafford), sophomores Nisha Wright (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson) and Rebecca Cole (Glenville, Pa. / Christian School of York) and freshmen Heather Hodges (Valencia, Pa. / Mars Area), Rebecca Pichora (Corapolis, Pa. / Moon Area), Brianna Hellier (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area) and Erica Sablofski (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Plum).

Robert Morris has one left meet on its 2011 fall slate, taking part in the Car-Du-Pitt in Pittsburgh, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 12.