Baltimore, Md. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team had four players reach double-digit scoring as it secured its first victory of the year, 84-60, at UMBC Sunday afternoon. The Colonials used an early second half run to pull away from the Retrievers and improve to 1-2 on the year. The loss was the first of the season for UMBC who falls to 3-1.
 
"I'm really happy for the players and staff, getting this first victory after playing the 19th-ranked team in the nation in Iowa and another Big 10 team, Illinois, both on the road," said 12th-year head coach Sal Buscaglia. "Being such a young team, we're a work in progress right now, but I feel each and every day if we get better in practice, I think we can have a very good season, but that remains to be seen.
 
"I thought it was a total team effort today, with a lot of different people contributing. That was nice to see and that will be something that is to our advantage in games to come."
 
The Colonials had four players in double-digits led by freshman Megan Smith's 19 points. She went 5-of-6 from three-point range and was 6-of-11 overall en route to a season high scoring output. Anna Niki Stamolamprou added 18 points, Ashley Ravelli tacke don 17 and Rebeca Navarro chipped in with 10.
 
Not to be overlooked, Mikalah Mulrain provided a huge lift coming off the bench. The freshman center had eight points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, and changed the flow of the contest upon her entry in the first half.
 
Robert Morris carried a six-point lead in to the break, but UMBC needed just 1:16 to tie the score in the second half. The Colonials, however, answered definitively.
 
A pair of fast break baskets by Ravelli sparked a 16-1 run. The Colonials defense held UMBC without a field goal for 7:43 during the game-deciding surge, pulling out a 53-48 lead. The full depth of the RMU roster was on display as five different players scored before Navarro buried a three to make it a 15-point lead.
 
Emily Russo, who had 14 points for UMBC, cut the margin to 13, but again RMU found the answer. Jolie Olingende finished a three-point play followed by two points from Navarro and a three-pointer by Smith that pushed the lead to 21 points. The Colonials biggest lead of the game was the final margin, 84-60, on a Stamolamprou trey with 11 seconds to play.
 
After a slow start, Mulrain provided the Colonials with a spark off the bench, scoring five straight points. Smith then drilled a three-pointer to give RMU its first lead, 13-12, with 11:32 showing in the first half. The Retrievers briefly tied the game at 13-13, but a Ravelli three-pointer was followed by two three-pointers from Smith.
 
The defensive pressure continued by RMU as they held the Retrievers without a field goal for over seven minutes. The work on the defensive end allowed the Colonials to push the lead to nine points on a Ravelli jumper from the left corner. UMBC was able to cut the lead to six, 34-28, at halftime. The host squad recieved nearly half of its scoring from the charity stripe, converting on 12-of-20 free throws.
 
Capree Garner led all scorers with 23 points for the Retrievers. The guard took 26 shots, converting on nine of them. She and Russo were the only two players from the host squad in double-digits.
 
Robert Morris stays in Baltimore for a couple more nights before taking on the Coppin State Eagles in a Noon contest Tuesday, Nov. 25.