Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team moved into a tie for first place in the Northeast Conference with a 60-48 win against Central Connecticut State at the Charles L. Sewall Center Saturday afternoon. The victory, combined with results across the conference, also ensured the Colonials (13-11, 11-2) a home game in the upcoming NEC Tournament.
 
Robert Morris has now won 10 consecutive games, the most since the 2009-10 team won 13 consecutive games. RMU has been nearly unstoppable at home, as well, winning 15 consecutive NEC games and 18 straight at home against league teams (three 2014 NEC Tournament wins).
 
"I'm really proud of the team, especially the way they came out focused and energized," said 12th-year RMU head coach Sal Buscaglia. "Central is a good team, but I thought we executed our game plan very well. Additionally, I'm very proud of our freshmen. We still have five games to go and we have to continue to take them one at a time, remain focused and finish strong."
 
The Colonials were led by Anna Niki Stamolamprou's 17 points. The Greek-born guard was efficient, going 6-of-9 overall and 3-of-5 from long range. Freshman Megan Smith was also key in the post, helping Robert Morris to a 30-16 advantage in the paint. She just about every column on the stat sheet finishing with 13 points, five rebounds, two assists a block and a steal. Mikalah Mulrain was a dominant defensive presence, block four shots and adding six points and seven rebounds to go along with three assists.
 
For the second consecutive game, the Colonials bolted out to a substantial early lead. After jumping ahead 19-0 at LIU Brooklyn Monday, RMU took a 12-0 lead against Central Connecticut State (15-9, 11-2  NEC) in six minutes. Smith accounted for eight of those points before the Blue Devils finally hit a shot 6:02 after tipoff.
 
A Janee Brown lay-in was followed by six consecutive points from Stamolamprou to polish off an 8-0 by RMU and give them a 22-4 lead with 11:00 left in the first half. Central Connecticut State, however, would cut into the lead courtesy of an 11-0 surge. Four different players scored for the visitors during that run that trimmed the Colonials advantage to 33-27 with 1:16 left in the opening frame. Lou Mataly, who finished with eight points, hit a three as time ticked away to put RMU ahead 36-27 at the break.
 
A three-pointer by Stamolamprou off a baseline out-of-bounds set ignited an 8-0 run by Robert Morris. Smith followed with a step-through lay-in and Mataly would bury another trey to push the lead to 17 points.
 
The Blue Devils would not threaten again, getting no closer than the final margin of 12 points on a Tejahne Malone jumper with 1:16 to play.
 
Malone finished with 17 points to lead her squad. She was 8-of-15 from the field and added 12 rebounds to record a double-double. Kaley Watras was the only other CCSU player in double-digits as she tacked on 11 points.
 
Robert Morris continued its red hot shooting streak, connecting at a 48.9 percent clip (23-47) from the field. Over the last 10 games, RMU is shooting 47.6 percent and 41.5 percent from three-point range.
 
The Colonials put their 10-game win streak on the line Monday when they host the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds in a 7:00 p.m.