Women's Basketball | 1/26/2017 12:35:00 PM

GAME 20
Robert Morris (10-9, 5-3 NEC) at Mount St. Mary's (5-14, 3-5 NEC)
Saturday, January 28, 2017 • 1:00 p.m.
Knott Arena (3,121) • Emmitsburg, Md.

Video: NECFrontRow.com • MountAthletics.com
Twitter: @RMUWBasketball • Instagram: rmuwbasketball
 
The Capsule
Robert Morris carries a two-game winning streak into a road trip of four contests, starting with a tilt at Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, Jan. 28. This marks the halfway point of the Northeast Conference (NEC) slate, and a victory over the Mountaineers will give the Colonials a better league mark (6-3) than last season's NEC Tournament championship team (5-4) through nine games.




The Series vs. Mount St. Mary's
While the Mountaineers own the all-time series edge, Robert Morris has rattled off seven consecutive victories and hold just two losses over the teams' last 20 meetings. However, during the seven-game stretch of success, all but two contests were decided by a deficit of single digits. The Colonials also have gone 8-1 in their previous nine games in Emmitsburg, including a 74-67 victory last season on Feb. 1, 2016.

Scouting the Mountaineers
Mount St. Mary's sits seventh in the NEC standings with a record of 3-5. The Mountaineers, who hold victories over Fairleigh Dickinson, St. Francis Brooklyn, and Wagner, are led in scoring by junior center Caroline Hummell as the Ontario native averages 10.7 points per game. Senior guard Alexis Carter does a little bit of everything for Mount, as she is third on the team in scoring (8.6 PPG) and paces the Mountaineers in rebounding (6.6 RPG) and steals (1.2 SPG).
 
Know Your Enemy
Jocelynne Jones posted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double against Mount St. Mary's on Jan. 18, 2016, and is averaging 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals in four contests. Anna Niki Stamolamprou is tallying 11 points per game versus the Mountaineers, thanks to a 21-point effort in the Colonials' previous meeting with the Mount, while Megan Smith has registered a pair of double-figure scoring games as a freshman on Jan. 3, 2015 (11 points) and Jan. 26, 2015 (15 points).
 
Coach B Weekly
In the 10th episode of Coach B Weekly, head coach Charlie Buscaglia recaps a successful pair of games against Bryant and Central Connecticut, talks about what the new UPMC Events Center will do for the program, breaks down a crucial late-game play versus the Blue Devils, and looks forward to this weekend's slate at Mount St. Mary's and Saint Francis U.



Last Time Out
In a back-and-forth affair, Robert Morris used a 21-12 fourth quarter edge to defeat Central Connecticut, 55-46, handing the Blue Devils their second NEC loss. The Colonials only shot 32.2 percent from the floor and were outrebounded 42-29, but forced 26 turnovers and scored 27 points off those errors to bring home a victory.
 
Scorin' Stamolamprou
Senior guard Anna Niki Stamolamprou is averaging a career-high 15.6 points per game in her final hurrah and is now 34 points shy of surpassing Laura Lindak (1989-94) for second place on the program's all-time scoring list. Stamolamprou overtook third place on Saturday, Jan. 21 against Bryant with 20 points, topping Elise James (1996-00) - who, like Lindak, is a RMU Hall of Famer.
 
A New Home in 2019
On Thursday, Jan. 19, it was announced that the RMU basketball teams as well as the volleyball program will play their home contests at the UPMC Events Center come January 2019. The new facility will feature the 4,000-plus-seat Peoples Court, a practice court, and numerous other amenities. Construction on the venue is slated to begin this July.
 
Keeping an Identity
The Colonials have identified themselves as a strong defensive team in the past and this season is no different. RMU currently leads the NEC in scoring defense (59.4) and field goal defense (.376), and has held five teams to under 30 percent shooting - already surpassing its total of four from both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns.
 
The Floor General
Senior guard Janee Brown owns a 1.51 assist-to-turnover ratio through 19 games of her final season in a Colonial uniform. Brown (71a, 47t) currently leads the Northeast Conference, which hasn't been done since 2009-10 when Angela Pace topped the league with a 2.36 mark.
 
Earning Her Minutes
Since Jan. 16 against Saint Francis U, freshman guard Ja'lynn Burton-Jones has averaged 10 minutes per game after playing just 26 minutes over the Colonials' first 16 contests. During this stretch, Burton-Jones is shooting 40 percent from international waters, a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw stripe, and has tallied four steals.
 
Swiper, Yes Swping
The Colonials defense has done their fair share of swiping over the last four games, tallying 10+ steals in each contest. Robert Morris has twice established a new season-high with 16 steals, accomplishing the feat in its last two contests. RMU also has forced 20+ turnovers in each of its previous six games, with a total of 55 coming over this past weekend against Bryant and Central Connecticut.
 
Chuck's Charms
The Charles L. Sewall Center, regularly referred to as 'The Chuck', has been a house of horrors for Robert Morris' opponents in its history. Since 2004-05, the Colonials have gone 137-41 (.770) at home and own a 93-20 (.823) mark in Northeast Conference contests.

Musket Shots
The Colonials' victory over Central Connecticut on Monday, Jan. 23 marked the first time this season they won without holding a lead after three quarters  ... Charlie Buscaglia is four victories shy of tying the program record for victories in a season by a first-year head coach, which was established by Dan Swalga in 1978-79 ... Robert Morris has outscored teams in the second half by a total of 39 points ... RMU returns 74 percent of its scoring from 2015-16, including five of its six leading scorers
 
Tweet #ColonialPride