Women's Basketball | 11/21/2016 12:02:00 PM
GAME 5
Robert Morris (3-1) at Vanderbilt (3-1)
Tuesday, November 22, 2016 • 12:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. CT)
Memorial Gymnasium (14,326) • Nashville, Tenn.
Video/TV: SEC Network+
Twitter: @RMUWBasketball • Instagram: rmuwbasketball
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The Capsule
The Robert Morris women's basketball team carries a two-game winning streak into a date with its first Power 5 conference opponent of the season as the Colonials travel to the Music City to take on Vanderbilt. RMU is in the middle of a six-game road trip, which concludes on Dec. 1 at Delaware.
The Series vs. Vanderbilt
This is the first meeting between the two teams in their programs' histories. The Commodores are the second of three new opponents for RMU this season, joining Lafayette this past Wednesday and either Florida International or Weber State on Sunday.
Scouting the Commodores
Vanderbilt enters this matchup with a 3-1 overall record, with all of its victories coming at home. The Commodores, who picked up a 77-73 win over Duke on Sunday, are led by redshirt junior Rebekah Dahlman (14.8 PPG) and third-year Christa Reed (11.5 PPG), who each are averaging double-figures in scoring. Dahlman has been as efficient offensively as anyone in the nation, shooting .520/.615/.893 (FG/3PT/FT) in just 22.8 minutes per contest. Vanderbilt has shown a deep rotation in the early going as 10 players are averaging at least 11.3 minutes per game.
Last Time Out
Robert Morris withstood foul trouble and an 11-point fourth quarter comeback to defeat Kent State, 68-65, in overtime this past Saturday.
Megan Smith paced the Colonials with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while Anna Niki Stamolamprou (12),
Rebeca Navarro (11), and
Jocelynne Jones (10) each joined Smith in the double-figure scoring club.
Record Book Movement
Senior guard Anna Niki Stamolamprou needs just one point to move into sole possession of fifth place in the program's all-time scoring list. Stamolamprou surpassed former NEC Player of the Year, Sade Logan (2007-09), this past Wednesday with a 22-point performance in the Colonials' victory at Lafayette. The 22-point effort was her 17th game with at least 20 points in her career.
Nearly Perfect
Robert Morris converted all but one of its attempts from the line in its 62-51 win at Lafayette on Wednesday, making 13-of-14 free throws for a conversion rate of 92.9 percent. The last time the Colonials were perfect from the chalk was on Jan. 26, 2015 at Mount St. Mary's when they sank all 11 attempts in a 68-44 victory.
Smith Stars for RMU
Junior forward
Megan Smith has been a big source of offense for the Colonials in their first four games, averaging a 14.5 points per contest while adding an per-game average of 8.5 rebounds. Smith, who posted her second career double-double against Point Park (19p, 13r), has been incredibly efficient, converting field goals at a 61.1 percent rate and has made seven of her nine attempts from beyond the arc.
Cleaning the Glass
Freshman center
Nneka Ezeigbo has been a spark for the Colonials early in the season, particularly on the glass. In her first career start, Ezeigbo pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds at Kent State and is averaging a team-best 9.0 caroms per contest.
Musket Shots
> Robert Morris is 133-39 (.773) at the Sewall Center since 2004-05, including 90-18 (.833) in NEC games
> The Colonials won back-to-back season openers for the first time since 2005-06, when they rattled off three consecutive opening day victories
> Anna Niki Stamolamprou is one of 21 members of the program's 1,000-point club, having joined on Jan. 2 against Sacred Heart
> 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
> The Colonials return 74 percent of their scoring from last season, including five of their six leading scorers
