Written by: Mike Wagner 2012
Moon Township, Pa. / Charles L.
Sewall Center-Robert Morris University women's basketball head
coach Sal Buscaglia's decision to switch
up his starting lineup against the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (15-7, 4-6 NEC) paid
off as the Colonials (11-10, 5-5 NEC) won their first home game since December
21 beating LIU 63-57. The only regular starters to remain in the line-up - senior
forward Mary Durojaye (London, England / Barking Abbey (British National Team))
and sophomore forward Artemis Spanou (Rhodes, Greece / Nea Smyrni (Greek
National Team)) - contributed with career nights while a renewed energy sparked
the rest of the squad as the Colonials played 11 players for the first time
this season.
Durojaye led the way for the Colonials with a career-high
29 points while going 11-of-19 from the field. The senior also buried 7-of-8
free throws and came up with six rebounds.
Spanou contributed thirteen rebounds to the team's effort
while narrowly missing her eighth consecutive double-double with nine points.
Entering the game seven rebounds shy of 500, Spanou became the second-fastest
player in RMU history to reach the milestone doing it in 51 games. She is the 18th player
to achieve the feat and joins senior teammate Mary Durojaye in the club.
LIU Brooklyn improved upon their five-point halftime lead
as they started the second half with a 9-2 run to push the margin to as many as
12 points, 46-34. The Colonials responded with an 18-3 stretch that not only
erased the Blackbird lead but gave the Colonials their first lead of the half
at 52-49 with six minutes remaining in the game. Within that run, RMU was inspired
by what appeared to be a serious injury to Durojaye. In the lone senior's short
absence, junior guard Briannica Tye (Aurora, Ill.
/ West Aurora (Mineral Area)) carried the team scoring her first
six points of the game. She finished the contest with 10 points.
Five consecutive points by Marika Sprow briefly put the lead
back in the hands of the Blackbirds. Durojaye, however, shook off her injury
and returned to the floor to score four unanswered points and start a 9-0 run
that lasted the final 3:07 of the game. The Colonials would win going away,
64-57, and snap a four-game home skid.
Without a revamped starting line-up, the Colonials opened
up the scoring with a 6-0 run in the first 1:49 of the game, going three of
four from the floor. Durojaye hit
her first four shots and accounted for eight of the team's first ten points as
RMU jumped on top, 10-4.
The Blackbirds answered with a
17-4 run of their own over the next 5:52. During that run, the Colonials
converted only two of their nine shot attempts while LIU saw six different
players score.
The two teams would continue to
trade baskets as LIU Brooklyn opened its largest lead of the half taking a nine-point
edge with roughly eight minutes remaining in the half. A late surge by Robert
Morris cut the Blackbird lead to five going into halftime with the score 37-32.
Kiara Evans and She'tiarra Pledger each finished with 12
points to lead the Blackbirds. All 10 players who touched the floor scored for
the visiting squad.
Junior guard Josette Campbell (London, England / Notre
Dame (NW Florida State)) had nine rebounds. She was one of six reserves that
helped RMU hold a 22-15 edge in bench scoring.
The Colonials return to action
this Saturday as they travel to Staten Island, N.Y. to face the Wagner
Seahawks. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
