Women's Basketball | 2/16/2017 4:19:00 PM

GAME 26
Robert Morris (16-9, 11-3 NEC) at Central Connecticut (9-16, 8-6 NEC)
Saturday, February 18, 2017 • 1:00 p.m.
Detrick Gymnasium (2,654) • New Britain, Conn.

Video: NECFrontRow.com • CCSUBlueDevils.com
Twitter: @RMUWBasketball • Instagram: rmuwbasketball
 
The Capsule
Robert Morris extended its season-long winning streak to eight games and looks to continue it with its final road trip of the regular season, which starts Saturday, Feb. 18 against Central Connecticut. Once 3-3 in the Northeast Conference, the Colonials have vaulted into a tie for first place in the league standings with Sacred Heart and control their own destiny for the program's first NEC regular-season crown since 2014.




The Series vs. Central Connecticut
The venue has been a key determinant in the RMU-CCSU series as the home team has won 28 of the 35 meetings. However, the Colonials have held their own in New Britain recently, compiling a 3-3 record in their last six games against the Blue Devils in the Nutmeg State. RMU's last win at CCSU came on Jan. 4, 2014, when the visitors rallied back from an 18-point halftime deficit to defeat the Blue Devils, 61-59.

Scouting the Blue Devils
Central Connecticut clinched its spot in the 2017 NEC Tournament on Monday and currently sits fourth in the standings with a league record of 8-6. The Blue Devils are a balanced team offensively, with three players averaging nearly or just over 10 points per game. Aleah Epps is at a team-high 12.0 points per contest, while also ranking third in the NEC in assists (3.8). Kiana Patterson and Andi Lydon average 11.0 and 9.7 points per game, respectively. Reynoso Giocelis is a force in the paint for CCSU as she ranks second in the NEC in rebounding (8.3) and blocked shots (1.8).

Coach B Weekly
In the 13th episode of Coach B Weekly, head coach Charlie Buscaglia talks about what has gone into the Colonials' current eight-game winning streak, recaps the victories against Wagner and Mount St. Mary's, discusses Janee Brown's steady presence, looks back at his favorite Robert Morris memory, and previews matchups at Central Connecticut and Bryant.


 
The Previous Meeting
Robert Morris picked up a 55-46 victory over Central Connecticut in their earlier meeting on Jan. 23, thanks to the Colonials' 21-point fourth quarter. RMU shot 55.6 percent in the closing stanza, with Anna Niki Stamolamprou scoring nine of her 11 points over the final 10 minutes. The Colonials scored 27 points off turnovers, picked up 22 points from their bench, and had an assist on 14 of their 19 field goals.

Last Time Out
Robert Morris collected its eighth victory in a row as it defeated Mount St. Mary's on Monday, 70-58, in a battle of the NEC's longest winning streaks. The Colonials built a lead as large as 24 points late in the third quarter, but the Mountaineers - who entered the contest with four straight wins - cut the deficit to as little as 11 points in the closing frame. Nneka Ezeigbo scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the second quarter, while Megan Smith nearly posted a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds
 
Streakin'
Robert Morris is currently riding an eight-game winning streak, which is tied for the sixth longest in program history. This is the second time that the Colonials have reached eighth consecutive wins, previously accomplishing the feat in 2006-07. The school record for most consecutive wins came during 2007-08 season when RMU won 17 straight from Jan. 16 to March 16.
 
Never Change
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 (57.9) and field goal defense (.378), and has held six teams to under 30 percent shooting - surpassing its total of four from both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns.
 
The Iron Woman
Senior guard Janee Brown has been a constant on the floor for Robert Morris in her career, appearing in all 123 games the Colonials have played since 2013-14. That mark is good for third all-time and is two shy of becoming the program record.
 
Class of Defending the Glass
Robert Morris paces the NEC in rebounding defense, allowing its opponents to grab an average of 34.2 caroms per contest. The Colonials own the two lowest opponent rebounding performances in the league this season, as they held Mount St. Mary's to 14 on Monday and Wagner to 21 on Jan. 14.
 
Lift Off
First-year head coach Charlie Buscaglia now owns the winningest debut head coaching season in program history as his 16-9 record surpassed Dan Swalga's 14-win campaign in 1978-79.
 
Feelin' It
Senior guard Anna Niki Stamolamprou is averaging a career-high 15.9 points per game in her final hurrah and recently surpassed Laura Lindak (1989-94) for second place on the program's all-time scoring list on Jan. 30 at Saint Francis U. Stamolamprou now has 1,683 career points and has tallied a per-game average of 14.3 points during her time in Colonial blue and white.
 
As We Go On, We Remember
The senior trio of Janee Brown, Rebeca Navarro, and Anna Niki Stamolamprou has accomplished so much during their time at Robert Morris. They have been a part of 73 overall wins at RMU and 50 NEC victories, and helped guide the program to three trips to the NEC Championship Game, two NEC titles, and a NEC regular-season crown.
 
The Floor General
Janee Brown owns a 1.52 assist-to-turnover ratio through 26 games of her final season in a Colonial uniform. Brown (97a, 64t) 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
Robert Morris owns two of the three largest margins of victory in the conference, as its 41-point triumph against LIU Brooklyn is second, while its 33-point win against Wagner is third ... The Colonials are 5-0 when scoring 70 or more points and 7-0 in contests where the team allows less than 50 points ... RMU has forced at least 20 turnovers in nine of its last 11 contests ... Six different Colonials (Janee Brown, Nneka Ezeigbo, Mikalah Mulrain, Rebeca Navarro, Megan Smith, Anna Niki Stamolamprou) have collected high scoring honors in 2016-17
 
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