Staten Island, N.Y. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team ran its winning streak to a season-high six games this afternoon with a 58-52 victory over Wagner College in Northeast Conference (NEC) action from the Spiro Sports Center.
Four Robert Morris (13-4, 6-0 NEC) players were in double-figures scoring, led by freshmen Megan Callahan and Nina Augustin, who each scored 13 points. The Colonials never trailed outside of the first minute of the contest, ultimately taking control of the game with an 11-0 run in the third quarter.
"We weren't our best today," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "We never put together a consistent attitude toward the game that we had in the past. We need to do a better job at executing the game plan on both ends of the floor. There were a few moments in which we did some good things like some of the responses we had in the middle of the game, but we didn't have the mindset to continue to close it out."
Up by two early in the second half, RMU used the aforementioned 11-0 stretch to put some distance on Wagner (3-15, 1-6 NEC). Honoka Ikematsu started the run with a corner three, freeing herself after Jocelynne Jones drove to the basket. Megan Smith followed that up with a bucket inside, then Nneka Ezeigbo added a put-back on the next possession. Another Smith bucket pushed the lead to 37-26 before a baseline jumper by Callahan gave the Colonials their biggest lead with 3:45 to play in the third.
One of the biggest catalysts to RMU's deciding run was its ability to take care of the basketball. A week after committing 33 turnovers in a victory over Saint Francis U, the Colonials cut that number by 20 this afternoon, with only three of their mistakes coming in the second half.
"We knew that (Wagner) was going to press so we had to focus on what they were looking to do," said Buscaglia. "We had a good focus and executed our passing, but we didn't have a good focus on finishing. We had a lot of good looks – especially from the outside – but sometimes the ball doesn't fall. At least we took care of the ball today."
In addition to Augustin's career-high 13 points, Nneka Ezeigbo posted a 10-point, 13-rebound (9 offensive) double-double off the bench. The double-double was the seventh of Ezeigbo's career and sixth of her sophomore campaign.
RMU's defense forced 26 turnovers, one shy of tying its season standard (27, 12/3/17 vs. Monmouth).
"Wagner did a good job, they played hard for 40 minutes," said Buscaglia. "Sometimes we bailed ourselves out on defense by taking charges and being in the right spot on help side. We got beat to the basket too much, though. We were able to cause turnovers by rotating, but we have to do a better job on the ball."
Megan Smith tallied 10 points, eight rebounds, and four steals in the victory.
This is the Colonials' sixth consecutive victory over the Seahawks and 23rd triumph in the last 25 meetings.
Augustin becomes the seventh player this season to own or share high scoring honors for RMU.
Robert Morris closes a brief two-game road swing on Monday, Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m. when it travels to Mount St. Mary's.
