Moon Township, Pa. – Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu put back an Esther Castedo miss with seven seconds remaining to give the Robert Morris University women's basketball team a 64-63 victory over Delaware State this morning on Career & Education Day from a sold-out North Athletic Complex.
Robert Morris (3-7, 0-0 NEC) led by as many as 15 points with 8:31 remaining in the third quarter before Delaware State (2-7, 0-0 MEAC) came storming back to regain the advantage in the final stanza at 57-56. Ozzy-Momodu's heroics gave head coach Charlie Buscaglia his 50th career victory, as he became the quickest Colonial general to that milestone in just his 76th try.
"The ball wasn't falling for us today," said Buscaglia. "We had a good flow there for a while, but then it stopped going in for us – we got really cold. I told (Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu), 'Get in there Ozzy, you've been rebounding so well for us. Get in on that shot, do not watch and be a spectator.' She crashed in hard and read (Esther Castedo's jumper) well off the rim, and was able to put it back in. We did a good job at getting back and contesting the three too. That was a great possession there."
RMU rebounded from a sluggish start, turning an 8-2 deficit into a 22-19 lead early in the second quarter with a Nadège Pluviose three-point play. The Colonials carried that momentum throughout the frame, finishing on a 16-8 run with a buzzer-beating jumper from Nina Augustin.
That advantage continued to grow at the start of the second half, as a Honoka Ikematsu jumper and Isabella Posset layup made it 42-27. But the RMU offensive struggles returned after a Hornets timeout as the visitors began to feed NaJai Pollard, who finished the morning with a 36-point, 12-rebound double-double. Pollard scored 14 of her points in the stanza, pulling DSU within seven heading into the fourth.
The Hornets opened the final frame on an 11-3 run, with Pollard's baseline jumper at the 4:17 mark giving DSU a 57-56 lead. Ozzy-Momodu answered with a layup on the other end, but Pollard sank another shot from the same spot to continue the tug-of-war.
That theme continued with Pluviose's hook shot answered by a Shonnyvelle Regalado jumper, and a Castedo layup followed by another Pollard bucket. Two offensive rebounds on the next possession by the Montreal product didn't result in another go-ahead basket, but RMU responded by forcing the Hornets into a shot clock violation with 22 seconds remaining.
"We had to give ourselves a chance there, and there was a great trace by (Isabella Posset) to get a fingertip on the ball," said Buscaglia. "We forced a heave there from halfcourt, and then were able to score on our possession. Everything came together there at the end. Things were ugly there in the third and fourth, but we were able to finish the game."
Buscaglia used his full timeout and drew up a play that freed Castedo up at the elbow. Her shot grazed off the rim, but Ozzy-Momodu was there to clean it up, splitting a pair of DSU defenders before laying it in for the win.
"We've been working hard with her," said Buscaglia of Ozzy-Momodu's performance. "She was a project coming in, who has a ton of ability with great hands, and just is a good kid. It was great to see her today with Nneka (Ezeigbo) in foul trouble, she stepped up and played those bulk minutes down the stretch. What a way to go into the break for her."
Ozzy-Momodu posted her second consecutive double-double in the victory, leading the Colonials with 12 points (4-7 FG, 4-4 FT) and 11 rebounds. Posset and Castedo also reached double figures in scoring, both tallying 10 apiece.
RMU pulled down 20 offensive caroms, helping offset its 35.7 percent (25-70) shooting effort compared to the Hornets' 52.0 percent (26-50) performance.
The record for quickest coach to 50 wins was previously held by 2006 RMU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Dan Swalga, who reached the mark in 78 games.
The attendance of 1,016 was the program's largest at the North Athletic Complex.
Robert Morris returns to the court after a 12-day break for the holidays on Sunday, Dec. 30 when it hosts James Madison at noon.
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