GAME 2
Monmouth (0-0) at Robert Morris (1-0)
Sunday, November 13, 2016 • 1:00 p.m.
Charles L. Sewall Center (3,056) • Moon Township, Pa.
Video: RMUColonials.com • NECFrontRow.com
Video Talent: Adam Gusky (play-by-play), Justin Pyles (color commentary)
Twitter: @RMUWBasketball • Instagram: rmuwbasketball
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The Capsule
The Robert Morris University women's basketball team returns to The Chuck on Sunday to close its season-opening two-game home stand against Monmouth. The Colonials began the 2016-17 campaign with a 69-52 victory over Point Park, outscoring the Pioneers over the final three quarters by 21 points. For the Hawks, this will be their 2016-17 debut after going 14-17 last season, concluding with a trip to the MAAC Tournament semifinals.
The Series vs. Monmouth
The Colonials trail the all-time series against the Hawks, 23-35, but did pick up a 60-47 victory in their last meeting a year and six days ago. An ECAC Metro and NEC opponent of RMU's since the 1985-86 season, the previous bout between the two teams was their first of the non-conference variety.
We Are the Champions, My Friends
Robert Morris enters the 2016-17 season with a familiar label attached: reigning NEC champions. The Colonials won their sixth NEC crown in March and advanced to their fourth NCAA Tournament; all appearances coming since the 2006-07 season.
A New, but Familiar Voice
After spending 13 seasons under his father,Â
Charlie Buscaglia enters his first season as head coach of the Colonials. Coach B, as he is respectfully called, has served as the associate head coach for eight seasons under Sal Buscaglia and was an assistant for the five seasons before that. A 2003 graduate of Manhattan College, Coach B has excelled on the recruiting trail during his career, bringing to Moon Township some of the program's all-time greats, such as Artemis Spanou, Angela Pace, and Sade Logan, among many others.
Musket Shots
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 Robert Morris is 133-38 (.778) at the Sewall Center since 2004-05, including 90-18 (.833) in NEC games
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 The Colonials have now won back-to-back season openers for the first time since 2005-06, when they rattled off three consecutive opening day victories
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 Anna Niki Stamolamprou is one of 21 members of the program's 1,000-point club, having joined on Jan. 2 against Sacred Heart
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 Sal Buscaglia retired after the 2015-16 season, leaving behind a legacy of success with a school record 224 victories, 712 career wins, and four NEC Tournament titles
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 The Colonials return 74 percent of their scoring from last season, including five of their six leading scorers
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Senior Start
Senior guard
Janee Brown kicked off her final season in a Colonial uniform with a bang, establishing a new career-high for points with 19. Brown, who added a team-leading seven assists to her resume, went 4-of-8 from the floor, 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 8-of-10 from the stripe.
Know Your Enemy
Robert Morris' 60-47 victory at Monmouth was the first time since 2013 that the two teams have met. Anna Niki Stamolamprou posted a double-double in the win with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Rebeca Navarro also was in double-figures with 10 points.
High Expectations
Robert Morris was selected to finish second in the NEC this season, according to a poll of the league's head coaches. The Colonials earned three first place votes and saw senior guard Anna Niki Stamolamprou be named to her second consecutive Preseason All-NEC Team.
Can I Get An Encore?
The Robert Morris senior class of Janee Brown, Rebeca Navarro, and Anna Niki Stamolamprou has helped lead the program to a significant amount of success over their careers. Coming into 2016-17, the Colonials have gone 58-40 overall and 38-16 in NEC play during their time in Moon Township, claiming two league tournament crowns, a regular-season championship, and three trips to the NEC Championship Game.
Decade of Dominance
From 2005-06 through 2015-16, Robert Morris posted a record of 139-59 (.702) in Northeast Conference play and won four regular season and four tournament titles. The Colonials have gone 202-144 (.584) over that span, reaching the 20-win barrier in six seasons.
Nationally Known
Robert Morris has played in a national tournament in seven of the last 10 seasons. In 2007 and 2008, the Colonials took part in the NCAA Tournament. A Preseason WNIT berth followed in 2008-09 and a Postseason WNIT in 2009-10. The 2011-12 season ended with the top seed in the Women's Basketball Invitational before RMU returned to the Big Dance in 2014 and 2016.
Insurmountable Lead
Robert Morris has never lost a game in which it has held the lead at the end of the second half. The Colonials were 20-0 in such situations last season and 1-0 in the 2016-17 campaign. All-time, RMU is 516-0 when leading at the final whistle.
