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Robert Morris University Athletics

Women's Basketball

RMU Suffers Loss In Tight Battle With Coppin State

Box Score

Baltimore, Md. / Physical Education Complex-The Robert Morris University basketball turned the ball over 35 times in a 59-52 loss at Coppin State University Friday afternoon. The Eagles were able to capitalize on those errors and turn them into 26 points as they improve to 4-7. RMU slips to 0-10.

"This was a very disappointing way for us to conclude the first semester of the season," said RMU head coach Sal Buscaglia. "You can't have that many turnovers and expect to win. Our youth and inexperience at the guard position was taken advantage of by Coppin State, but we all had a hand in not executing, catching the ball, passing and shooting. I hope we can get our energy back and come back refreshed following the break."

Junior forward Artemis Spanou (Rhodes, Greece / Nea Smyrni) led all players with 21 points and 12 rebounds, her eighth double-double in 10 games. She was 6-of-13 from the field and went 7-of-8 at the charity stripe while playing all 40 minutes.

Junior guard Kelly Hartwell (Woodbridge, Va. / Gar-Field) had her best outing of the season with 13 points. She tied her career with nine rebounds as she went 5-of-12 from the field.

Robert Morris turned the ball over on its first five possessions and found themselves trailing 9-0 early on. Hartwell came off the bench and put the Colonials on the board with 15:08 to play in the first half.

Her energy sparked a 9-0 run with five points. The run cut the margin to one point, 12-11, with 9:32 to play. The Colonials surged ahead, 18-16, on a three-pointer by Spanou and would hold Coppin State scoreless for 6:15. The defense allowed RMU to push out to a 22-16 lead. The Eagles had the last run of the half, however, and grabbed a 24-22 lead at the break as Shanice Maynard and Leola Spotwood buried three pointers down the stretch.

The Eagles scored the first four points of the second half to push the margin to 28-22. Four consecutive free throws by Spanou pulled the margin to two points and a three-pointer by freshman Randi Jackson (Oakland, Calif. / Bishop O'Dowd) tied the game at 29.  Spanou then buried a three-pointer after an Eagles free throw and RMU had a two-point lead.

The team's would trade runs once again as the Eagles surged ahead, 39-34, before a 7-0 run fueled by four points from Spanou put the Colonials back on top for the final time with 10:25 to play. Coppin State went on a 13-4 run to take control. RMU would cut the lead to three point with five minutes to play but couldn't overcome the deficit.

Shanice Maynard and Leola Spotwood each had 14 points to pace Coppin State.

The Colonials return to the hardwood December 30 when they travel to Kent State for a 3:30 p.m. contest.

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