Women's Basketball | 1/26/2018 10:37:00 AM

GAME 19
Bryant Bulldogs (6-12, 5-2 NEC) @ Robert Morris Colonials (14-4, 7-0 NEC)
Saturday, January 27, 2018 // 1:00 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
After a successful two-game road swing, Robert Morris returns home for a pair of games at home, starting on Saturday, Jan. 27 against Bryant. The Colonials and Bulldogs have the NEC's two longest win streaks, sitting at seven and five games, respectively. A RMU victory would establish a new program record for most wins to open up a NEC campaign, surpassing the 7-0 start set by the 2010-11 team.

NOTES: Bryant @ Robert Morris (1.27.18)

The Opponent
After a rough non-conference slate, Bryant has caught fire as of late, winning its last five games after beginning NEC play at 0-2. Four of its victories over this stretch have been by double-digits, including a 75-56 triumph over LIU Brooklyn this past Saturday. Sophomore forward Sydney Holloway leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 16.7 points per game while also pulling down a team-best 9.4 rebounds per contest. Redshirt junior guard Naomi Ashley owns per-game averages of 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds, while third-year guard Kierra Palmer is dishing out a team-high 4.8 assists per game.

The Series
Overall: 14-5 | Home: 10-0 | Away: 4-5 | Streak: W1
Last Game: Robert Morris 65, Bryant 52 (3.12.17 – NEC Championship Game)
 
Bryant has been Robert Morris' most common opponent as the teams have played 12 times since the 2014-15 season thanks to four consecutive NEC Tournament meetings. Last season, the Colonials split the regular season series with the Bulldogs before getting the last laugh with a 65-52 victory in the NEC Championship Game. Anna Niki Stamolamprou, who was named NEC Tournament MVP, led RMU with 23 points and nine rebounds in 40 minutes. Megan Smith added 11 points and six assists en route to being named to the All-NEC Tournament Team.

Coach B Weekly
In the 13th episode of Coach B Weekly, head coach Charlie Buscaglia discusses the following: his pick to win the Super Bowl, grading the defense at Wagner, the team's quick start at Mount St. Mary's, what has gone into the Colonials' 7-0 NEC start, the growth of Nina Augustin, and a preview of Saturday against Bryant.


 
Last Time Out
Robert Morris closed out a perfect two-game road trip with a 77-68 win at Mount St. Mary's on Monday. The Colonials opened the game with a 10-0 run and owned a 43-24 edge on the glass. Four RMU players were in double-figures scoring, led by Megan Smith's 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting. The freshman trio of Nina Augustin (14), Honoka Ikematsu (14), and Megan Callahan (12) joined Smith in that category.
 
Keep It Going
RMU is off to a 7-0 start in Northeast Conference (NEC) matching the program record originally set by the 2010-11 team. The Colonials' 14-4 record in their first 18 games is their best since the 1983-84 team opened that season at 15-3.
 
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 55.4 points per contest, which ranks tops in the NEC and 15th nationally. RMU also paces the conference in field goal defense (.359), which ranks 23rd nationally, and sits in the Top 100 in steals per game (10.2, 50th) and turnovers forced (19.00, 58th).
 
Share the Love
Thanks to Nina Augustin's 13-point effort at Wagner, the Colonials have had seven different players own or share high scorer honors this season. Augustin joins Megan Callahan, Nneka Ezeigbo, Honoka Ikematsu, Jocelynne Jones, Mikalah Mulrain, and Megan Smith in that department. RMU's 2003-04 squad was the last to have more than seven players lead the team in scoring when eight Colonials topped the scoresheet.
 
The Bench Brings It
RMU's bench has provided no drop-off to the starting five this season, as the reserves are averaging 21.4 points per game and an average of 7.4 points more than the opponents' reserves. RMU is 12-1 when its bench outscores the opposing one and 29-4 since 2016-17 when that happens.
 
Three-Kematsu
Just 18 games into her career, it's clear that Honoka Ikematsu is someone you don't want to leave open from beyond the arc. Ikematsu is converting at a 48.1 percent (38-79) rate from deep, and currently owns the third highest three-point percentage in the nation.
 
Block Party
Senior center Mikalah Mulrain has 21 blocked shots this season, upping her career total to 155. Mulrain now sits 14 shy of Anna Gailite's school record of 169, which she set from 2009-13.
 
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 14-0 this season. All-time, RMU is 587-0 when leading at the final whistle.

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