Women's Basketball | 1/29/2017 3:46:00 PM

GAME 21
Robert Morris (11-9, 6-3 NEC) at Saint Francis U (11-9, 8-1 NEC)
Monday, January 30, 2017 • 7:00 p.m.
DeGol Arena (3,500) • Loretto, Pa.

Video: NECFrontRow.com • SFUAthletics.com
Twitter: @RMUWBasketball • Instagram: rmuwbasketball
 
The Capsule
Robert Morris will look to extend its season-high winning streak of three games when it travels to Saint Francis U on Monday, Jan. 29. The Colonials have won five of their last six games, and during this stretch they have held each of their opponents to under 50 points.




The Series vs. Saint Francis U
The rivalry between Robert Morris and Saint Francis U has been very even, with the Colonials holding the slightest 41-40 edge over their Keystone State foes. The Red Flash has fared better at home in this series, owning a 25-14 mark at DeGol Arena, and has won four of the last seven meetings between the two teams.

Scouting the Red Flash
Saint Francis enters this meeting with an identical 11-9 overall record to Robert Morris, but is currently tied with Sacred Heart at the top of the NEC standings with an 8-1 mark. Jessica Kovatch leads the league in scoring with 22.0 points per contest and has been named NEC Player of the Week on three different occasions. Ace Harrison and Katie Reese are also averaging double-figures for the conference's top offensive attack, tallying 13.4 and 12.9 points per contest, respectively. The Red Flash feature a pair of shot blockers in the paint as Courtney Zezza's 60 rejection pace the NEC, while Cydney Smith has managed 23 in just 12 games.
 
The Previous Meeting
These two teams played just two weeks ago, with Saint Francis U coming out on top. The Red Flash defeated Robert Morris in Moon Township, 70-55, thanks to a 42-18 difference in the first half. RMU forced 24 turnovers, but was undone by committing 27 errors and shooting just 25 percent over the opening 20 minutes. Megan Smith paced the Colonials with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while Anna Niki Stamolamprou added 13 and eight rebounds.

Last Time Out
Robert Morris used the momentum of an 18-8 first quarter edge to pick up its third consecutive victory, a 50-44 decision at Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, Jan. 28. The Colonials outrebounded the Mountaineers, 40-34, and shot 80 percent from the foul line to come away with the victory. Anna Niki Stamolamprou paced RMU with 15 points, while Rebeca Navarro added nine points, four assists, four steals, three rebounds, and a block off the bench.
 
Scorin' Stamolamprou
Senior guard Anna Niki Stamolamprou is averaging a career-high 15.5 points per game in her final hurrah and is now 19 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 (58.7) and field goal defense (.375), 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 1.41 assist-to-turnover ratio through 20 games of her final season in a Colonial uniform. Brown (72a, 51t) 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 9.5 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.

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 three 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 45 points ... RMU returns 74 percent of its scoring from 2015-16, including five of its six leading scorers
 
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