Hackensack, N.J. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team established a new program record for three-point percentage, making 66.7 percent of its attempts from deep as it earned a 66-64 victory at Fairleigh Dickinson University this afternoon in Northeast Conference (NEC) play.
Robert Morris (6-7, 1-1 NEC) made 12 trifectas on the afternoon, falling one shy of tying the school standard in that department. The Colonials' efficient attack topped the previous record of 62.5 percent, set on 11-of-16 attempts against Bryant on Jan. 11, 2014.
"We had really good ball movement and attacked their defenses as they were switching them," said first-year head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "I thought our accountability, speed, and movement on the floor offensively and defensively was pretty strong. We had a steady dose of everyone being involved and that was the key. It wasn't just who got the final shot; it was the movement before that helped us. I was really proud of that."
Senior guard Rebeca Navarro finished with a season-high 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting, nearly equaling her career-best of 23 set in the 2015 NEC Quarterfinals against Fairleigh Dickinson (2-11, 0-2 NEC). Fellow fourth-year Anna Niki Stamolamprou added 15 points and eight rebounds as the two seniors finished with nine of the Colonials' 12 three-pointers.
RMU used its highest scoring frame of the season, tallying 28 points in the second quarter to take a 41-34 lead into the break. The Colonials sunk five of six attempts from beyond the arc in the stanza – with contributions coming from Navarro, Stamolamprou, junior guard Shakema Dashiell, and sophomore guard Nia Adams – and ended the half with an 8-of-10 performance from deep.
The visitors extended their lead to double-digits after an 18-14 difference in the third quarter and pushed it to a game-high 14 with 7:24 remaining in the contest when Navarro connected from long range for the sixth time. That proved to be just enough cushion over the final stages of the game as the Knights cut the deficit to two late, but couldn't get the tying bucket on its last possession.
"We have to close the game out better," said Buscaglia. "We didn't hit key free throws and take care of the ball at the end. Fortunately, we were able to overcome all that and come away with the win. While I'm happy we won, there are still some things we have to do better."
Junior center Mikalah Mulrain provided the Colonials with a spark off the bench, tallying nine points, three rebounds, and a pair of blocks in 20 minutes.
"Mikalah [Mulrain] did some nice things today," said Buscaglia. "I expect her as a junior to keep going forward and take steps in the right direction. She had a little lingering injury at the beginning of the season and got through that, and we'll need her presence with Nneka [Ezeigbo] being a freshman."
RMU shot 46.0 percent (23-of-50) from the field compared to FDU's 41.8 percent (23-of-55) performance and outrebounded the Knights, 35-31.
Today's victory also marked the first time the Colonials have won on New Year's Eve, previously owning a 0-4 record on the year's final day.
Robert Morris returns home for five of its next six NEC contests, starting with a 1:00 p.m. tilt on Saturday, Jan. 7 against St. Francis Brooklyn.
