vs YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS
Wednesday, December 17, 2014 | 7:00 p.m. | Moon Township, Pa. | Charles L. Sewall Center
 
The Capsule
The Robert Morris University women's basketball team wraps up the home portion of its non-conference schedule Wednesday night when the Youngstown State Penguins visit the Charles L. Sewall Center for a 7:00 p.m. game Wednesday, Dec. 17. RMU is looking to end a four-game slide and earn its first home victory while the Penguins look to remain undefeated.
 
The Series vs. Youngstown State
The Colonials are 4-14 against the Penguins in a series that dates back to the 1982-83 season. RMU has won the last two games between these squads, the last meeting a 65-54 victory against YSU on December 18, 2006.
 
Olé Sole
Sophomore center Judith Sole has put together a pair of impressive performance in the last two games. She has recorded two double-doubles, averaging 18.5 points and 13.5 rebounds. Sole had 14 points and 10 rebounds at Hofstra before recording career-highs for points, 23, and rebounds, 14, in her first career start vs. Duquesne.
 
Chuck's Charms
The Charles L. Sewall Center, a.k.a. "The Chuck", has lent a certain advantage for the Colonials over the past 11 seasons. Since 2004-05, RobertMorris is 112-32 (.778) in home games, including an even more impressive 75-15 (.833) record against Northeast Conference opponents.
 
Musket Shots
• Sophomore Judith Sole is averaging 18.5 points and 13.5 rebounds recording double-doubles in the last two games
• Anna Niki Stamolamprou is fourth in the conference and 71st nationally scoring 17.8 points per game
• Stamolamprou leads the conference and is 50th nationally shooting 43.8 percent from three-point range
• Nationally, the Colonials are 26th in three-pointers (7.9/game)
• Ashley Ravelli has started every game since 2012-13, a streak of 70 consecutive starts
• The Colonials underclassmen average 48.0 points per game, accounting for 75.5 percent of the team's scoring
• RMU opened the season with five consecutive road games for the first time in team history
• RMU is 112-32 (.778) at the Sewall Center since 2004-05, including 75-15 (.833) in NEC games
• Seven of the Colonials 12 players hail from outside the United States
• In 11 seasons at the helm, Sal Buscaglia has led the Colonials to six 20-win seasons
• RMU has won three of its five NEC Championships with Buscaglia on the bench
• Buscaglia was named the Brenda Reilly Coach of the Year for the third time in 2013-14
• The Colonials went 21-12 in 2013-14, winning the NEC and earning their third NCAA Tournament berth
• The Colonials were selected first in the 2014-15 NEC Preseason Poll garnering five first place votes
• Robert Morris has made it to the NEC Tournament semifinals in eight of the last 10 seasons
 
Underclassmen Scoring
RMU has received tremendous offensive output from its eight underclassmen with sophomores and freshmen accounting for 75.5 percent of the team's scoring. The sophomore class scores 32.4 points a game and the rookie class tacks on 15.6 points. Juniors and seniors combine to score 16.7 points a game.
 
Bench Depth
The Colonials have 11 players averaging at least 11 minutes of a game. Eight are scoring at least four points or more per game. Seven different players have seen action in all six games this season. The RMU bench has outscored all but two of its counterparts.
 
Second Half Improvement
The Colonials have played significantly better in the second half of games this season compared to the opening half. RMU is shooting 39.2 percent and scoring 35.2 points in the second half compared to 34.1 percent and 27.6 points in the first half.
 
Record Road Trip
Robert Morris opened the season with five consecutive road games, the most road games to start a season in program history. The five-game swing is also the second longest road trip in team history and the first five-game trip since 2007-08. The 1989-90 squad had six consecutive road games.
 
Preseason Favorite
Robert Morris earned five first-place votes and was picked first in the NEC Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll. It's the second straight season RMU is the preseason favorite and the fourth time overall.
 
The Road to The NCAA Tournament
The Colonials earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Northeast Conference Tournament, taking advantage of the top seed they secured by winning the regular season title witha 14-4 record. RMU has won five NEC titles, earning NCAA Tourney berths in 2007, 2008 and 2014. A 16-seed last season, the Colonials lost to #1 seed Notre Dame, 42-93.
 
Bringing Home the Hardware
Four Colonials were honored with NEC Postseason accolades in 2013-14. Artemis Spanou was the Player of the Year for the second straight season while Sal Buscaglia was the Brenda Reilly Coach of the Year for the third time. Anna Niki Stamolamprou and Cassie Oursler earned spots on the All-Rookie team.
 
Team Records For Home Wins
The Colonials went 15-4 at home last season, setting a team record for home wins. RMU won 13 straight games at the Chuck to end the 2012-13 season, the longest such win streak in team history.
 
Jolie's Seven Jargons
Redshirt senior Jolie Olingende is fluent in seven languages. The 6' 1" center speaks French, English, Lingala, Kingwandi, Kisango, Kkongo, Munukutoba. French is the offical language of the Congo. Kisango is her mother's native language while Kingwandi is her father's. Lingala is the language of northern Congo and Kkongo was the language spoken where she attended school. Olingende picked up Munukutuba on her own and didn't learn English until she attended school at Arizona Western. She plans on learning Spanish as well when she travels to Spain next year.
 
Growing Pains
The 12-player Robert Morris roster features 8 underclassmen and just four upperclassmen. Jolie Olingende is the lone senior and Ashley Ravelli, Lou Mataly and Randi Jackson make up the junior class. RMU has four sophomores and four freshmen.
 
International Love
The Robert Morris roster once again features members from all over the world. The Colonials 14-player roster features eight international players. Of the six Americans, all come from different states with Maryland, New Jersey, New York and California represented. RMU's imported players hail from Canada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Greece, Italy and Spain.
 
20 Win Again
The 2013-14 squad reached the 20-win plateau for the eighth time in school history. Six of those 20-win seasons have come in the 11 seasons that Sal Buscaglia has been at the helm of the program.
 
Insurmountable Lead
Robert Morris has never lost a game in which it has held the lead at the end of the game. The Colonials are 2-0 in such situations this season. All-time, RMU is 481-0 when leading at the final whistle.
 
Perennial Playoff Potential
Robert Morris has missed the NEC playoffs just once since 2004-05. RMU had eight consecutive playoff appearances from 2004-05 through 2011-12 and finished first in three of those seasons, earning the tournament's top seed in 2010. The Colonials returned to the postseason last year by taking the regular season title.