Brooklyn, N.Y. – Thanks to a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter, the Robert Morris University women's basketball team claimed its 14th consecutive victory over LIU Brooklyn, 55-44, this afternoon in Northeast Conference (NEC) play from the Steinberg Wellness Center.
Robert Morris (17-5, 10-1 NEC) led for the majority of the contest, but found itself behind, 39-37, with 7:58 remaining. Honoka Ikematsu sank a runner in the lane on the next possession to knot the game at 39-all, which then sparked a 15-0 run that ultimately proved to be the difference. The Colonials held LIU Brooklyn (9-14, 5-7 NEC) without a point over the course of 7:19, and limited the hosts to 28.9 shooting (13-45) from the field – the eighth time RMU has held its opponent to a field goal percentage below .300 this season.
"Nothing came easy today," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "We had some moments where we fought hard, and some moments where we lost our pace. I give a lot of credit to LIU Brooklyn for playing extremely hard for 40 minutes. Our defense got better as the game went on, and that was a big reason why after missing a lot of shots around the rim, we propelled ourselves to a win."
Nneka Ezeigbo posted her eighth double-double of the season in the victory, leading the Colonials with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Mikalah Mulrain and Megan Smith added nine points each, while Ikematsu scored five of her eight points during the aforementioned 15-0 stretch.
"(Nneka) did a great job at being a steady, athletic presence around the basket," said Buscaglia. "She was able to grab some misses and posted up big inside down the stretch. She also showed a little range hitting those jumpers from the outside. It's great to see that development – we pride ourselves on that. Her hitting some shots from the perimeter and having the confidence to take them is a big brick in the foundation."
The Colonials defense held the Blackbirds to just four points in the second quarter to carry a 25-17 lead into the halftime break. LIU Brooklyn responded with a 13-4 run in the third quarter to make it 34-33 heading into the closing stanza, then found itself ahead with a pair of Paris Jones free throws.
After Ikematsu's runner, Ezeigbo split a pair of free throws to shift the advantage in favor of the visitors at 40-39. Ikematsu then canned a corner three off a Jocelynne Jones assist, followed an Ezeigbo layup on another Jones feed. The senior forward added a bucket of her own with contact, converting the ensuing free throw to make it 48-39. Smith sank two foul shots to make the gap double-digits, and Ezeigbo finished it off with another basket in the paint.
Jeydah Johnson and DeAngelique Waithe each scored 12 points to lead the Blackbirds.
Robert Morris closes a three-game road trip on Monday, Feb. 12 at 7:00 p.m. when it faces St. Francis Brooklyn.
