Box Score Niagara University, N.Y. / Gallagher Center – Freshman forward Cassie Oursler (Grand Island, N.Y. / Grand Island), playing just 13 miles from her home, had the best game of her young career but it wasn't enough as the Robert Morris University women's basketball team suffered an 81-70 setback at Niagara University Saturday afternoon. The loss moves RMU to 3-4 overall while the Purple Eagles improve to 2-5.
 
Oursler had career highs in both points (14) and rebounds (8), going 5-10 from the field and 4-of-6 from the chalk. She also had the only two blocks for Robert Morris.
 
Senior forward Artemis Spanou (Rhodes, Greece / Nea Smyrni) extended the second-longest streak of double-doubles in NCAA Division I history to 31 games. She had 18 points and 15 rebounds, 11 caroms in the second half, and led RMU in scoring. She was 8-of-11 from the charity stripe and 5-of-12 from the field. Freshman Rebeca Navarro (Galicia, Spain / Las Siege Palmas) had a career best with 14 points and sophomore Ashley Ravelli (Milano, Italy / The Hun School) tacked on 13 points.
 
Robert Morris scored first on a three-pointer by Navarro, but it was Niagara who seized control of the contest with an 8-0 run following the Colonials opening basket. The margin would remain the same until the Colonials used an 8-2 surge to tie the game at 28-28 on a lay-in by Jolie Olingende (Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of the Congo / Arizona Western) with 4:22 left in the half. Unfortunately for RMU, the Purps responded with an 11-4 run to end the half and take a 39-32 lead at the break.
 
Niagara pushed the lead to as many as 20 points in the second half, 62-42, with 11:28 left in regulation. The Colonials would continue to take the ball to basket drawing fouls and getting into the double-bonus situation. They took advantage by going 10-12 from the line during a 13-3 run that cut the Purple Eagles lead to 67-58 with just over seven minutes to play.
 
The Purple Eagles quelled the RMU comeback with a 7-2 run that pushed the margin back to 14 points with 5:13 to play. Five Spanou free throws and an Oursler put-back made it a seven-point game. Again Niagara answered with four points and RMU wasn't able to hit the big shot down the stretch as the host Purps held on for an 81-70 win.
 
Chanel Johnson led all scorers with 20 points for Niagara. Meghan McGuinness and Val McQuade each had 12 points. The Purple Eagles shot 55.6 percent (15-27) in the second half and 50.0 percent (29-58) overall.
 
Robert Morris returns to the hardwood next Saturday, Dec. 14, when they host Colgate in a 5:00 p.m. game at the Charles L. Sewall Center.