Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's rowing team opened its 2012 spring season this past weekend by taking part in the Murphy Cup in Camden, N.J.

Highlighting the event for the Colonials was the women's novice four, which finished first in its heat with a time of 10:05.44, over 21 seconds faster than runner-up Pitt, which posted a time of 10:26.65.

Overall the time for the novice four was the second fastest among 15 boats that crossed three different heats, but unfortunately to a regatta committee glitch, RMU was unable to participate in the final, which featured just two of the six qualified boats eligible to participate.

The Robert Morris novice four boat featured freshmen Heather Hodges (Valencia, Pa. / Mars Area), Brianna Hellier (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area), Kristin Fay (Philadelphia, Pa. / Philadelphia), Rebecca Pichora (Coraopolis, Pa. / Moon Area) and Laura Mooradian (St. Catherines, Ontario / Denis Morris).

In the varsity four, Robert Morris ran a pair of boats, with the first varsity team earning a fourth-place finish with a time of 10:00.56, while the second varsity team finished fifth thanks to a final tally of 10:28.66.

The first varsity four boat featured sophomore Megan Coleman (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Northgate), junior Gretchen Gailey (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area), freshman Julie Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Catholic), junior Ashley Wright (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine-Richland) and senior Chelsea Thornton (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Carrick).

The RMU women's novice eight that also featured Hodges, Hellier, Fay, Pichora and Mooradian and was joined by freshmen Jenna Vidic (West Sunbury, Pa. / Moniteau), Caitlin Martin (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Upper St. Clair), Erica Sablofski (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Plum) and Cassandra Grafton (Hartstown, Pa. / Jamestown Area) finished fourth in its heat thanks to a time of 9:16.56.

Robert Morris continues its 2012 season Saturday, March 31, by taking part in the Neuwelier Plate in Lewisberry, Pa.