Women's Basketball | 11/10/2017 10:57:00 AM
GAME 1
Robert Morris Colonials (0-0) at Michigan State Spartans (0-0)
Saturday, November 11, 2017 // 4:00 p.m. // East Lansing, Mich. – Breslin Center (14,759) // BTN+
Live Video ($): BTN Plus // Live Stats: MSUSpartans.com
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The Capsule
The Robert Morris women's basketball team begins its quest for a third consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) championship on Saturday, Nov. 11 as it travels to the Great Lakes State to take on Michigan State. The Colonials are coming off a 22-11 season in 2016-17, advancing to their second straight NCAA Tournament in the process. RMU also returns seven players from last season's group, including a pair of All-NEC selections in senior forward
Megan Smith and sophomore center
Nneka Ezeigbo. The Spartans also have made back-to-back trips to the Big Dance, earning their way last season with a 21-12 record as an at-large.
NOTES: Robert Morris @ Michigan State (11.11.17)
The Opponent
Michigan State advanced to its eighth NCAA Tournament in nine seasons and bring back four starters from the 2016-17 squad. Redshirt senior guard Branndais Agee leads the Spartans, averaging 10.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season, both of which ranked second on the team. She was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention along with sophomore guard Taryn McCutcheon, who finished third in the conference in assists (6.0).
The Series
Overall: 0-1 |
Home: 0-0 |
Away: 0-1 |
Streak: L1
Last Game: Michigan State 68, Robert Morris 35 (11.25.12)
Michigan State and Robert Morris have only met once in their histories, with the Spartans toppling the Colonials, 68-35, on Nov. 25, 2012. Kelly Hartwell led RMU that afternoon with nine points, while Artemis Spanou added eight points and nine rebounds.
Coach B Weekly
In the second episode of
Coach B Weekly, head coach
Charlie Buscaglia discusses a non-conference slate that doesn't feature many road contests, looks at the leadership qualities displayed in his senior class, and reiterates that while preseason recognition is nice, he doesn't put any stock in those rankings.
Welcome to Hoop Township
Robert Morris is in the midst of its greatest run ever, capturing three of the last NEC Tournament titles, including the last two. The Colonials have made five NCAA Tournaments since 2006-07, owning a 204-146 (.583) overall record and a mark of 138-60 (.697) in league play during this 11-season stretch.
Can I Get An(other) Encore?
The Colonials are in pursuit of their third consecutive NEC Tournament championship this season, a feat that has only been accomplished three times in conference history - last by Saint Francis U from 2002-05.
A Dream Debut
After assisting his father, Sal Buscaglia, for 13 seasons at Robert Morris,
Charlie Buscaglia was given the reigns to the program prior to the 2016-17 season. In his first season as head coach, Coach B, as he is respectfully called, led the Colonials to NEC regular season and tournament crowns and claimed Brenda Reilly NEC Coach of the Year honors after shattering the record for victories by a RMU first-year head coach with 22.
Canada's Finest
An All-NEC Third Team selection in 2016-17, senior forward
Megan Smith was named to the Preseason All-NEC Team ahead of her final hurrah in Moon Township. Smith is the team's leading returning scorer (10.7 ppg) and rebounder (6.0 rpg), and is the program's career leader in three-point percentage (.409).
Block Party
Senior center
Mikalah Mulrain will begin her last season within striking distance of the career blocks record as her 134 rejections are 35 shy of Anna Gailite's mark of 169 set from 2009-13.
Ezeigbo Knows
Someone who showcased a very bright future last season was sophomore center
Nneka Ezeigbo, who was rewarded with an All-NEC Rookie Team selection. Ezeigbo topped double figures in scoring on eight occasions, posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double on Feb. 4 at St. Francis Brooklyn, and averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in just 17.1 minutes per game.
Battling the Big Ten
RMU's meeting with Michigan State will mark the sixth time it has played a Big Ten opponent since the 2012-13 season. During that stretch, the Colonials have played Iowa three times (2014, 2015, 2016), Illinois in 2014, and the Spartans in 2012.
Hei Alokas, Konnichiwa Ruki
Freshman guards
Nina Augustin and
Honoka Ikematsu are the program's first players from Finland and Japan, respectively.
Agent Zero
Senior guard
Shakema Dashiell is the only player in program history to wear the number zero.
Insurmountable Lead
Robert Morris has never lost a game in which it has held the lead at the end of the second half. The Colonials were 22-0 in such situations during the 2016-17 campaign. All-time, RMU is 573-0 when leading at the final whistle.
