Women's Basketball | 1/28/2018 7:48:00 PM

GAME 20
Central Connecticut Blue Devils (2-17, 2-6 NEC) @ Robert Morris Colonials (15-4, 8-0 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
Robert Morris looks to complete a perfect January this Monday when it closes a two-game home stand against Central Connecticut. The Colonials' 72-49 victory over Bryant on Saturday moved them to 8-0 in the Northeast Conference (NEC), establishing a new program record for best league start. A win would mark the first time since February of 2010 that RMU has gone undefeated over an entire month.

NOTES: Central Connecticut @ Robert Morris (1.29.18)

The Opponent
Central Connecticut brings a 2-6 NEC record into this meeting, owning victories over Wagner and Sacred Heart. The Blue Devils are led by junior guard Kiana Patterson, who is averaging 12.3 points per game thanks to a 39.7 percent shooting performance from deep. Patterson also averages a team-best 2.6 assists per game and owns a 1.0 assist/turnover ratio. Junior forward Andi Lydon is also averaging double-figures scoring at 11.1 points and is pulling down a team-high 5.4 rebounds per contest.

The Series
Overall: 23-14 | Home: 17-3 | Away: 6-11 | Streak: W4
Last Game: Robert Morris 70, Central Connecticut 62 (3.8.17 – NEC Tournament Semifinals)
 
Robert Morris owns a 23-14 edge over Central Connecticut in the all-time series, thanks in part to a 17-3 record at home. The Colonials have won four straight over the Blue Devils, with three of those victories coming last season. RMU knocked off sixth-seeded CCSU in last year's NEC Semifinals, 70-62, behind a then-career-high 18 points from Nneka Ezeigbo off the bench. Anna Niki Stamolamprou and Rebeca Navarro were also in double-figures scoring for the Colonials at 15 and 11 points, respectively.
 
Last Time Out
Robert Morris toppled Bryant on Saturday, 72-49, in a rematch of the 2017 NEC Championship Game. The Colonials outscored the Bulldogs, 45-18, over the middle two quarters and forced the visitors into 30 turnovers. Honoka Ikematsu led the hosts with 16 points and was joined in double-figures scoring by Jocelynne Jones (12), Megan Callahan (12), and Megan Smith (10).
 
Keep It Going
RMU is off to a 8-0 start in Northeast Conference (NEC) surpassing the program record of 7-0 originally set by the 2010-11 team. The Colonials' 15-4 record in their first 19 games is their best since the 1983-84 team opened that season at 16-3.
 
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 55.1points per contest, which ranks tops in the NEC and 15th nationally. RMU also paces the conference in field goal defense (.356), which ranks 16th nationally, and sits in the Top 100 in steals per game (10.5, 41st) and turnovers forced (19.58, 37th).
 
30 Below
Saturday, Bryant became the sixth team this season that the Robert Morris defense has held under 30 percent shooting, as its .298 mark joined Northern Kentucky (.261), Delaware State (.277), Sacred Heart (.280), LIU Brooklyn (.263), and St. Francis Brooklyn (.282). 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 21.1 points per game and an average of 7.1 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 19 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 49.4 percent (42-85) rate from deep, and currently owns the third highest three-point percentage in the nation.
 
Block Party
Senior center Mikalah Mulrain has 24 blocked shots this season, upping her career total to 158. Mulrain now sits 11 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 15-0 this season. All-time, RMU is 588-0 when leading at the final whistle.

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