Pittsburgh, Pa. – In its inaugural game at PPG Paints Arena, the Robert Morris University women's basketball team used a 19-7 run over the third and fourth quarters to break a 27-27 deadlock with LIU Brooklyn, ultimately winning the game, 60-53, this afternoon in Northeast Conference (NEC) action.
Robert Morris (10-4, 3-0 NEC) held LIU Brooklyn (5-8, 1-1 NEC) to 26.2 percent (16-61) shooting – its fourth opponent to shoot under 30 percent this season – and received a double-double from Nneka Ezeigbo (17 points, 13 rebounds), the fifth of the sophomore center's career.
Megan Smith added 15 points (6-12 FG) and eight rebounds, while Honoka Ikematsu chipped in with 11 points. The Colonials outrebounded the Blackbirds, 57-35, with 22 of those caroms coming on the offensive end.
RMU opened the game with a 17-3 run, immediately adjusting to its second home arena of the season. After a Denisha Petty-Evans free throw, Ikematsu canned back-to-back three-pointers and Megan Smith made a pair of freebies to open up a 14-point lead. LIU responded with a Jeydah Johnson trifecta, followed by a Tia Montagne jumper and Drew Winter three-pointer that beat the first quarter buzzer.
The Blackbirds carried that momentum into the second frame, continuing to chip away at the deficit before a Petty-Evans three-pointer and free throw gave the visitors a 25-24 edge in the third. The lead didn't last long as Ikematsu drilled a shot from deep for her third trifecta of the contest. However, Johnson sank a pair of foul shots on the other end to knot the game at 27-all with 4:11 left in the stanza.
That's when the Colonials kickstarted a 19-7 stretch to take control of the game, starting with a Smith three on the fastbreak from Megan Callahan. Callahan then set up a bucket for Ezeigbo, with followed with a free throw to complete the traditional three-point play. Smith then hit a layup off a Nina Augustin pass to make it 35-27, but Johnson sank another trey to stop the bleeding.
Holding a four-point lead in the final minute of the third, Ezeigbo pulled down an offensive board and finished in the paint. After the RMU defense forced a miss from Johnson on the next possession, Callahan created some space by going behind her back before sinking a layup as time expired. Ezeigbo then opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back buckets, giving the Colonials their first double-digit lead since the 3:44 mark of the opening frame.
The visitors pulled within four twice in the closing stanza, but RMU made six of eight free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
The Colonials have now held 12 opponents to below 30 percent shooting since Charlie Buscaglia took over as head coach prior to the 2016-17 season.
PPG Paints Arena is believed to be the fourth different home arena for the RMU women, joining the John Jay Center, Charles L. Sewall Center, and North Athletic Complex.
Johnson and Petty-Evans led the Blackbirds with 16 points each.
Robert Morris returns to the North Athletic Complex on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7:00 p.m. when it hosts St. Francis Brooklyn for the second game of a three-game home stand.
