GAME 12
Robert Morris (5-6, 0-0 NEC) at Sacred Heart (3-8, 0-0 NEC)
Thursday, December 29, 2016 • 1:00 p.m.
William H. Pitt Center (2,062) • Fairfield, Conn.

Live Video: NECFrontRow.com
Live Stats: SacredHeartPioneers.com
Twitter: @RMUWBasketball • Instagram: rmuwbasketball
 
The Capsule
It's a rematch of this past March's Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship Game for Robert Morris in its league opener as the Colonials travel to the Nutmeg State on Thursday, December 29 to take on preseason favorite Sacred Heart. RMU began its pursuit of a seventh conference crown with five victories in non-league play, which tied Bryant for the most among NEC teams.




The Series vs. Sacred Heart
The Pioneers have doubled up Robert Morris in its history, but recently the Colonials have had their way, picking up victories in four of the teams' last six meetings. RMU won two games against Sacred Heart last season, including a 56-51 decision on the Pioneers' home floor to send the Colonials to their fourth NCAA Tournament.

Scouting the Pioneers
Sacred Heart went 3-8 during the non-conference slate of their schedule, picking up victories over Fairfield, Binghampton, and Siena. Preseason All-NEC selection Hannah Kimmel leads the Pioneers in scoring, averaging 14.5 points on 42.3 percent shooting. Fellow senior Adaysha Williams is also averaging double-figures, tallying 11.5 points per game thanks to a 86.7 percent conversion rate from the free throw stripe. Williams also has posted a team-best 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is the second highest mark in the league.
 
Know Your Enemy
After not finding much success against Sacred Heart as a freshman, Anna Niki Stamolamprou has proved to be a thorn in the Pioneers' side since then, tallying double-digit points in four of the teams' last five meetings. Stamolamprou, who is averaging 11.6 points per game versus SHU, scored her 1,000th career point last season on Jan. 2, 2016 against the Pioneers, finishing that game with 22 points (8-11 FG, 6-7 3PT). Fellow senior Rebeca Navarro also had one of her best shooting performances when facing SHU as she went 7-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from deep in a 20-point effort as a freshman on Feb. 20, 2014.

Last Time Out
Robert Morris closed the non-conference portion of its schedule on a high note, defeating Morgan State, 58-44, despite a slow start. The Colonials were sloppy in the beginning stages, turning the ball over 11 times before showcasing its tenacious to take control of the game. RMU had four players in double-figure scoring - led by Anna Niki Stamolamprou's 14 points - and held the Bears to 27.1 percent shooting.
 
Lockdown D
Robert Morris has been at the top of its game defensively in the early stages of 2016-17 as the Colonials enter NEC play owning the league lead in scoring defense (61.2) and field goal defense (.380). In its last game, RMU held Morgan State to 27.1 percent shooting - the second time that has happened this season (Dec. 4 vs. Howard).
 
No Problem for Nadège
Nadège Pluviose has become an integral piece of the Colonials' offense recently, tallying double-digit points in each of RMU's last two games. Pluviose established a new career-high in scoring on Dec. 9 at Iowa, pouring in 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, before following that up with a 10-point effort on 4-of-4 from the field at Morgan State on Dec. 18. The freshman has been efficient with her looks, converting at a 55.2 percent rate (16-29) from the floor, while sinking 68.4 percent (13-19) of her attempts from the free throw stripe.
 
Boarding Pass
Senior guard Anna Niki Stamolamprou became the 20th member of RMU's 500 rebound club on Dec. 18, pulling down six caroms to surpass the marker. The feat also made her just the third player in program history to tally 500 rebounds and 300 assists, joining Artemis Spanou (1563r, 370a) and Angela Pace (508r, 303a).
 
The Floor General
Senior guard Janee Brown has had a strong start to her final season in a Colonial uniform, owning a 1.61 assist-to-turnover ratio through the first 11 games. Brown (37a, 23t) currently leads the Northeast Conference, which hasn't been done since 2009-10 when Angela Pace topped the league with a 2.36 mark.

Musket Shots
In the Colonials' five victories this season, they have held a lead going into the fourth quarter ...  After establishing a career-high in points at Iowa with 12, Nadège Pluviose scored in double-figures for second consecutive game at Morgan State, tallying 10 in 10 minutes  ... Nneka Ezeigbo claimed her second NEC Rookie of the Week award on Dec. 19, becoming the fourth Colonial in the last five seasons to garner the plaudits more than once (Ashley Ravelli, Megan Smith, Anna Niki Stamolamprou) ... RMU returns 74 percent of its scoring from 2015-16, including five of its six leading scorers
 
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