Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team wrapped up non-conference play with a 53-50 win over traditional mid-major power Delaware at the Charles L. Sewall Center Tuesday afternoon. The victory also gave 13th-year RMU head coach Sal Buscaglia 211 wins for his career, tying the school record held by Dan Swalga (1978-90).
 
The Colonials, 6-5 overall, were led by sophomore Megan Smith who had 16 points. The forward went 4-of-4 from long range and 6-of-13 overall. She added five rebounds as well. Anna Niki Stamolamprou, Rebeca Navarro and Leah Wormack each added nine points. Navarro led the team with six boards and was 3-of-3 from three-point range.
 
"It was a very good win over a Delaware team who has had many years of success. Just a few years back, they were in the Sweet 16," said Buscaglia. "Although we still have a lot of things to work on, it is a good way to enter and be prepared for conference play which begins this Saturday.
 
"I was really excited about the way Ashley Ravelli bounced back in the second half after, admittedly, not her best basketball in the first half. She scored seven points in the last five minutes of the game including a key pull-up and a clutch three-pointer from the corner. Anna Niki, although playing with a bad cold, gave everything she had. Megan and Rebeca really came through for us scoring some key buckets. Playing 11 people, all at significant times shows the depth that we have."
 
Robert Morris opened the game with back-to-back three pointers from Stamolamprou and Navarro. Delaware (5-6) responded with a 14-3 run that ended when Sade Chatman hit her only shot of the game. A trey by Hannah Friend at the end of the first quarter gave the Blue Hens their biggest lead, 17-11.
 
The Colonials were able to cut the margin to one point on the end of the second quarter by forcing nine Blue Hen turnovers. A 15-foot pull-up jumper by Stamolamprou at the buzzer made it 26-25, but it was Smith who did the majority of the damage with half of the team's 14 second-quarter points.
 
RMU seized control of the game right out of the halftime locker room as Navarro put the Colonials on top with one three, then splashed another on the next possession to give the home squad a five-point lead. After Alexis Sears trimmed it to two points, Smith nailed a three to cap a 9-2 surge to start the third quarter. Another Smith trey was the last basket of the third quarter and gave the Colonials its biggest lead of the game, 43-36.
 
Consecutive baskets by Hannah Jardine and Erika Brown pulled Delaware to within one-point, 48-47, with 3:26 to play. But senior Ashley Ravelli, who had seven points in the final five minutes, responded with a pull up jumper. She then buried a trey from the right corner to put the Colonials up six points. A three-point play by Brown cut the lead to three points with 36 ticks on the clock, but the Blue Hens missed a desperation three at the buzzer as RMU held on for the win.
 
Courtni Green led Delaware with 15 points and Nicole Enabosi tacked on 11 rebounds to lead all players. The Blue Hens outrebounded the Colonials, 42-31, but RMU forced 21 turnovers and led the visitors 19-13 in points off turnovers.
 
Robert Morris opens Northeast Conference play Saturday, Jan. 2, by hosting Sacred Heart in a 1:00 p.m. game at the Charles L. Sewall Center.