Box Score
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Loretto, Pa. / DeGol Arena – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team nearly overcame a 25-point deficit before falling at Saint Francis University, 78-73, in a Northeast Conference game at DeGol Arena Saturday afternoon. Senior forward Kelly Hartwell (Woodbridge, Va. / Gar-Field) scored a career-high 24 points off the bench as the Colonials slip to 13-4 in NEC action and 17-11 overall. The Red Flash improve to 12-16 and 10-7 in league games.
 
The Colonials nearly overcame 30 minutes of sloppy basketball to record a win. RMU found itself behind by as many as 25 points in the second half. Trailing, 66-46, after an Alexa Hayward three-pointer just past the midway point of the second half, a driving bucket by Hartwell would spark a 16-0 Robert Morris run over the next 4:39.
 
Then an acrobatic tip-in by Hartwell turned in to a three-point play when she made the ensuing foul shot. Navarro followed by burying a three-pointer before Hartwell came up with a steal and lay-in on the next possession. Another Hartwell steal ended with a put-back by freshman forward Cassie Oursler (Grand Island, N.Y. / Grand Island). The player who started it, Hartwell, ended the 14-0 surge with a pair of free throws that pulled the Colonials to within four points, 66-62.
 
That would be as close as RMU would get, however, as Saint Francis' Alexa Hayward and Alli Williams were able to trade baskets with the Colonials down the stretch. Hayward finished with 27 points, eclipsing 1,000 for her career. Williams tacked on 23 points and 10 rebounds.
 
In addition to Hartwell's 24 points, Oursler finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks from her center position. Senior forward Artemis Spanou (Rhodes, Greece / Nea Smyrni) collected her 82nd career double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds while adding four assists and three steals. Freshman guard Anna Niki Stamolamprou (Thessaloniki, Greece / Aristotelio College of Thessaloniki) chipped in with 11 points as well.
 
The Red Flash turned the pressure up early and bolted out to a 17-2 lead just six minutes into the game. They built the lead by forcing RMU to turn to the ball over 10 times in the first eight minutes. Hartwell provided a spark off the bench, allowing the Colonials to cut the lead to 10 points, but Saint Francis would double-up the Colonials, 14-7, over the last six minutes to take a 47-30 lead into the break.
 
RMU committed 13 first half turnovers and SFU turned those into 15 points. The Red Flash shot 47.2 percent (17-36) in the first half and drained five three pointers. The Colonials were 0-9 from long range, but 11-23 from inside the arc.
 
The Colonials return to the hardwood Monday, March 3, when they host Mount St. Mary's in what amounts to the regular-season championship game.