Women's Basketball | 1/12/2018 11:49:00 AM

GAME 16
Saint Francis U Red Flash (9-7, 4-0 NEC) @ Robert Morris Colonials (11-4, 4-0 NEC)
Saturday, January 13, 2018 // 2:00 p.m. // Moon Township, Pa. – North Athletic Complex
Live Video: NEC Front Row // Live Stats: RMUColonials.com
Adam Gusky, play-by-play; Justin Pyles, color commentary

The Capsule
It's a battle of the lone remaining Northeast Conference (NEC) teams on Saturday, Jan. 13 as Saint Francis U travels to the North Athletic Complex to face Robert Morris in a Keystone State showdown. The two teams were picked to finish first (SFU) and second (RMU) in the Preseason Coaches' Poll and have established themselves early in the league slate as the NEC's top offensive (SFU) and defensive (RMU) teams.

NOTES: Saint Francis U @ Robert Morris (1.13.18)

The Opponent
Saint Francis U enters this matchup with a 4-0 mark in NEC action and a 9-7 overall record. The Red Flash and its uptempo style of play are averaging 80.5 points per game, good for a No. 24 ranking nationally. Junior guard Jessica Kovatch leads the team in scoring at 22.6 points per game, followed by redshirt freshman Caitlyn Kroll (13.1 PPG) and graduate student Ace Harrison (12.3 PPG). Harrison, a transfer from Maryland, ranks third in the NEC in steals (2.4), sixth in field goal percentage (.459), seventh in rebounding (6.6), and eighth in assists (2.6) and blocked shots (1.0). Junior center Courtney Zezza is tied for the conference lead in blocks at 2.3 per contest.

The Series
Overall: 42-39 | Home: 23-14 | Away: 15-23 | Neutral: 1-2 | Streak: W1
Last Game: Robert Morris 70, Saint Francis U 68 (1.30.17)
 
Robert Morris leads the all-time series with Saint Francis U, 42-39. The teams have split the last nine meetings, with the Colonials getting the upper hand in their previous bout, 70-68, on Jan. 30, 2017 in Loretto. RMU trailed by nine with 7:23 left, but used a 13-3 run over the next three minutes to take the lead for good. Anna Niki Stamolamprou led all scorers with 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting, while Mikalah Mulrain posted a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double.
 
Last Time Out
Robert Morris picked up its fourth consecutive win in a 59-36 triumph over St. Francis Brooklyn on Monday, Jan. 8. RMU held the Terriers to a single point in the first quarter and continued that defensive excellence for the majority of the contest. Megan Callahan scored a career-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Mikalah Mulrain posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double - her first of the season.
 
One is the Loneliest Number
The Colonials defense limited St. Francis Brooklyn to one point in the first quarter of their 59-36 win on Monday, establishing a new school record for fewest points allowed in a frame. The previous mark was set on Jan. 9, 2017 in RMU's 83-42 win over LIU Brooklyn after the Colonials carried a 23-3 advantage into the second quarter.
 
Lock 'Em Down
Robert Morris has prided itself on defense in its history and this season is no different. A season after establishing a new program record for points per game allowed at 57.5, the Colonials are currently allowing an average of 54.3 points per contest, which ranks tops in the NEC and seventh nationally. RMU also paces the conference in field goal defense (.354), which ranks 26th nationally, and sits in the Top 100 in steals per game (10.4, 50th) and turnovers forced (18.60, 81st).
 
Four and Oh
RMU is off to a 4-0 start in Northeast Conference (NEC) play for only the seventh time in program history. The Colonials last started 4-0 in 2015-16, a season that concluded in the program's sixth NEC title. RMU has also opened up the conference slate at 4-0 in the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 (NCAA Tournament), 2009-10, and 2010-11 seasons.
 
30 Below
On Jan. 8, St. Francis Brooklyn became the fifth team this season that the Robert Morris defense has held under 30 percent shooting, as its .282 mark joined Northern Kentucky (.261), Delaware State (.277), Sacred Heart (.280), and LIU Brooklyn (.263). RMU has now limited 13 opponents to a field goal percentage below .300 since 2016-17.
 
The Bench Brings It
RMU's bench has provided no drop-off to the starting five this season, as the reserves are averaging 21.3 points per game and an average of 8.3 points more than the opponents' reserves. The Colonials are 10-1 when their bench outscores the opposing one and are 27-4 since 2016-17 when that happens.
 
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 and 11-0 this season. All-time, RMU is 584-0 when leading at the final whistle.

Tweet #ColonialPride