Women's Basketball | 12/14/2018 12:37:00 PM
GAME #9
Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats (4-5, 1-2 PSAC) @ Robert Morris Colonials (1-7, 0-0 NEC)
Saturday, December 15, 2018 // Noon // Moon Township, Pa. – North Athletic Complex (1,000)
Live Video: NEC Front Row // Live Stats: RMUColonials.com
Play-by-Play: Adam Gusky, Color Commentary: Justin Pyles
Notes Package: Robert Morris
Musket Shots
> For the first time in 35 seasons, Robert Morris and Pitt-Johnstown meet on the hardwood as the Colonials host the Mountain Cats this Saturday. RMU is looking to snap a six-game losing streak, last falling to Kent State, 54-46, this past Friday, while UPJ is coming off a 67-49 defeat in its home opener against Kutztown University.
> This six-game home stand is the longest this season for the Colonials. RMU's first home stand was just two games, and it doesn't have more than two straight home games over the remainder of the 2018-19 campaign.
> All seven teams the Colonials have lost to boast .500 or better records thus far, combining to go 38-23. Youngstown State and Iowa each own 7-2 records, while Loyola Marymount and SMU are sitting at 6-2 and 5-4, respectively. Rhode Island (5-5), Bowling Green (4-4), and Kent State (4-4) all are at the .500 mark.
> Third-year head coach Charlie Buscaglia sits two wins shy of 50 for his career following a victory over La Salle on Nov. 11. Buscaglia is looking to reach 50 victories faster than any other coach in program history, the record currently held by Dan Swalga at 78 games. His father, Sal Buscaglia, reached the 50-win mark at RMU on Dec. 28, 2006 after 96 contests in charge of the Colonials.
Series History w/ Pitt-Johnstown
Overall: 1-9 | Home: 0-2 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 0-1 | Streak: L1
Last Meeting: 1983-84; Moon Township, Pa. – Pitt-Johnstown 67, Robert Morris 61
> A regular staple on the schedule during Robert Morris' early years as a program, the Colonials are just 1-9 all-time against Pitt-Johnstown. RMU and UPJ played every season from 1977-78 to 1983-84.
> In their last meeting, the Mountain Cats defeated the Colonials, 67-61. Missy Walls led RMU with 20 points, while Carol Denniston '85 and Diane Solomon '85 added 10 points each. The Colonials would bounce back to win three straight to end the season, including the Pennwood West Championship Game over Point Park, 72-59.
> RMU's only win over UPJ came earlier in that season, 72-68, in the IUP Tournament championship game. Kim Mong '85 nearly posted a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds in the triumph.
Scouting the Mountain Cats
> Pitt-Johnstown is sitting at 4-5 overall with a 1-2 record in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play. The Mountain Cats have lost three straight following a 98-83 two-overtime win at Mansfield to open the month of December.
> UPJ began the season with three straight victories over Shaw (N.C.), Winston-Salem State, and West Virginia Wesleyan. In an exhibition contest on Halloween, the Mountain Cats fell to RMU's in-state rival Saint Francis U, 85-78, despite taking a 45-41 lead into halftime.
> Junior guard Gabrielle Smith and third-year forward Alli McGrath are each averaging 20 points per game. Smith is at a team-high 22.3 points per contest - thanks to a 45.2 percent rate from the field and 94-of-117 (.803) mark at the stripe - while McGrath, a transfer from UMBC, is scoring exactly 20.0 points per game. Smith also owns high honors in rebounding (7.1 RPG), assists (23), steals (16), and blocks (11).
Ezeigbo Knows
> After a slow start to her junior campaign, Nneka Ezeigbo has heated up over the holiday season. Ezeigbo has scored in double figures in four consecutive games, bumping her scoring average from 7.8 to a team-best 11.0 points per game.
>Â Ezeigbo established a new season-high against Kent State, scoring 18 points on 8-of-14 from the field. Over this four-game stretch, the junior is averaging 14.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game, while shooting 61.0 percent (25-41) from the floor.
> Thanksgiving might be Ezeigbo's favorite holiday. She's now made back-to-back All-Tournament Teams at both the ShareSLO Holiday Beach Classic and LMU Thanksgiving Classic, averaging 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 2.0 steals over the last two Turkey Day tourneys. Ezeigbo is shooting 55.6 percent (20-36 FG) from the field and 77.8 percent (7-9 FT) at the stripe during those games.
It's All About Balance
> Balance has been a key element of the RMU offense over its first eight games, as seven players have reached double figures in scoring, with five of those tying or owning high scorer honors in a contest.
> Ezeigbo's four double-digit scoring performances pace the Colonials, followed by Megan Callahan and Isabella Posset at three each. Posset poured in 12 points on 5-of-6 from the foul line in RMU's most recent matchup against Kent State, while Callahan tallied double figures in three consecutive games from Nov. 17-24. Also scoring 10 or more points in a game this season are Esther Castedo (2), Nia Adams, Honoka Ikematsu, and Nadège Pluviose.
Making the Grade
> Robert Morris has passed its Finals Week tests off the court, owning the second and fourth highest GPAs in NCAA Division I women's basketball over the last two seasons. The Colonials have passed their Finals Week tests on the court too, winning their last two games played following the week-long break.
> Last season, RMU defeated Clarion at the North Athletic Complex, 60-53. The Colonials were stellar on the glass, outrebounding the Golden Eagles, 48-32. Nneka Ezeigbo posted a double-double with career highs in points (23) and rebounds (15), while Mikalah Mulrain '18 pulled down 10 caroms - eight being offensive.
> Two seasons ago, the Colonials went on the road and defeated Morgan State, 58-44. RMU shot 57.1 percent (24-42) from the floor and held the Bears to 27.1 percent (13-48) shooting. Four Colonials (Anna Niki Stamolamprou '17, Megan Smith '18, Nadège Pluviose, and Ezeigbo) each reached double figures in scoring.
Splash Sisters
> The guard trio of Megan Callahan, Esther Castedo, and Honoka Ikematsu have been dynamite from distance thus far, combining to make 46 three-pointers at a 41.4 percent conversion rate.
>Â Castedo has been the most efficient of the three, as her 42.4 percent performance from deep ranks sixth in the NEC. The freshman has made 14 treys this season, including a pair of four-trifecta efforts against La Salle and Bowling Green.
> Callahan is tied for the team-high in made three-pointers with 16. She's sank 42.1 percent of her attempts and has made one in every game thus far. Last season, the sophomore finished fourth in the NEC in three-point percentage (.383) and ninth in three-pointers made (1.9 per game).
>Â Ikematsu also has 16 three-pointers to her name this season, converting at a rate of 40.0 percent. She opened the season with five makes from distance at Youngstown State, her fourth career performance with five or more. The program's all-time leader in three-point percentage (.411), Ikematsu finished third in the NEC last season in that category (.414) and eighth in three-pointers made (2.0 per game).
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 are 1-0 in such situations this season and went 25-0 last season. All-time, RMU is 599-0 when holding the lead at the final whistle.
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