Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team broke open a three-point game with a big second half run to extend its win streak to 11 games following a 67-46 victory against LIU Brooklyn at the Charles L. Sewall Center Monday night. The win, combined with a Central Connecticut State loss at Saint Francis University, has given the Colonials (14-11, 12-2 NEC) sole possession of first-place in the Northeast Conference standings.
 
"We're certainly happy with the win, but we didn't play our best game," said 12th-year RMU head coach Sal Buscaglia. "I was proud that, when they cut the lead to three, we didn't hang our heads, but instead came back with two runs of own. That's something we might have not done earlier in the year."
 
All nine available players scored for the Colonials with four of those hitting for double-digits. Anna Niki Stamolamprou led all scorers with 13 points. She added six rebounds, two steals and an assist on a rare off-shooting night that saw her go 4-of-13, but 3-of-7 from three-point range. Lou Mataly tacked on 12 points with a 4-of-9 shooting effort, all from beyond the arc.
 
Jocelynne Jones added 11 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists. Judith Sole tacked on 10 points and six rebounds as well as two assists and a steal.
 
Robert Morris led by 13 points early in the second half, but watched LIU Brooklyn (7-18, 4-10 NEC) go 4-for-4 during a two-minute stretch and trim a 42-29 lead to 42-39 on a Shanovia Dove three-pointer with 12:26 to play.
 
The Colonials, however, found the answer on the defensive end. A steal by Mikalah Mulrain led to a breakaway layup for Janee Brown. The play sparked a 15-1 run by RMU. Mulrain hit a short jumper on the next possession, before Jones scored on a steal and breakaway. Sole hit a pair from the chalk to cap an 8-0 surge. After a Blackbirds free throw, Stamolamprou drilled a three-pointer from the corner before Brown heaved one in to beat the shot clock to put RMU on top, 55-40, with 7:07 left.
 
The decisive surge was part of a 25-7 run by the Colonials over the final 12 minutes of the game. During that time, they gave up just two field goals, received scoring from eight different players and hit 10-of-19 shots.
 
For the third straight game, the Colonials got out to an early lead using a 15-0 run to jump on top, 18-4, midway through the opening frame. The Blackbirds made it competitive with a 12-2 answer over the next five minutes, cutting the lead to just four points. Robert Morris had the last say in the half, though, scoring the final 11 points of the frame to take a 33-19 lead at the break.
 
Sophie Bhasin was the lone Blackbird to reach double-digits with 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting. Latava Whippy had nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals while Brianna Farris tacked on nine points off the bench.
 
The Colonials forced 22 turnovers resulting in 21 points and dominated the paint to the tune of 28-18.
 
Robert Morris returns to action Saturday, Feb. 21, when they travel to Smithfield, R.I., just outside Providence, for a 1:00 p.m. game against the Bryant Bulldogs.