Smithfield, R.I. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team set a record for three-pointers and freshman Megan Smith scored a career-high but it wasn't enough to overtake the Bryant Bulldogs in a 69-66 setback at Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, R.I. The loss drops the Colonials into a first-place tie with the Bulldogs as both teams stand at 12-3 in Northeast Conference play. RMU is 14-12 overall and Bryant is 19-7.
 
Smith went 9-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-8 on three-pointers, to finish with a season-best 23 points. Lou Mataly nailed a trio of three-pointers to finish with 11 points and Judith Sole was 5-of-10 from the floor for 10 points.
 
The team's fourth three-pointer of the contest set a new program record with 204, eclipsing the mark set by last season's squad. The Colonials now have 209 three-pointers on the year after a 9-for-24 performance Saturday.

"I'm disappointed that we didn't come out the gate stronger," said 12th-year RMU head coach Sal Buscaglia. "When you're on the road, especially, and when you're the number team in the conference and defending champion, you have a bullseye on your back. You must know that you're going to have to rise up to meet the challenge. Today, we didn't come out strong and didn't get the effort we needed as a team. We need to take one game at a time and just focus on that. I still believe in this young team and I'm confident we'll come out in the next game with a sense of urgency and effort."
 
Trailing by as many as 11 points in the second half, the Colonials clamped down defensively holding Bryant without a field goal in the game's final five minutes. Robert Morris took advantage with a 12-2 run that ended with seven straight points to cut the lead 65-64. Smith had eight points during the surge, including an acrobatic lay-up that made it a one-point game with 26 seconds to play.
 
A pair of free throws by Jenniqua Bailey put the margin back to three points, 67-64. On the ensuing possession, a potential game-tying three pointer by Sole rimmed out and Bryant secured the carom, part of a 43-30 rebounding advantage for the home squad. Breanna Rucker knocked down a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left to ice the game, the final points coming on Mataly's lay-up with two seconds left.
 
The Colonials and Bulldogs went back and forth in the opening 10 minutes with RMU pulling ahead, 14-12, on Smith lay-up with 11:05 to play. Bryant made the first big move next, a Rucker jumper kickstarting a 9-0 run. Tiersa Winder followed with a three and a lay-up and Maureen Leahy's long jumper put the host squad on top, 21-14, with 8:38 to go.
 
A baseline jumper by Anna Niki Stamolamprou was followed by a traditional three-point play from Janee Brown to cut the margin down to two points.  Bryant responded to push the lead seven points with a three-pointer by Dani Anderson with 3:24 left and that would be the margin at halftime, 35-28.
 
The Colonials 11-game win streak ends with the setback. Robert Morris will look to start a new streak Monday, Feb. 23, when they travel to Sacred Heart for a 7:00 p.m. game at the Pitt Center.