GAME 23
Robert Morris Colonials (17-5, 10-1 NEC) @ St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers (9-14, 5-7 NEC)
Monday, February 12, 2018 // 7:00 p.m. // Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. – Pope Center
Live Video: NEC Front Row // Live Stats: SFCAthletics.com

Hello Brooklyn
Robert Morris looks to close out a three-game road trip on a high note as it takes on St. Francis Brooklyn on Monday, Feb. 12. The Colonials rebounded from their first Northeast Conference (NEC) loss to defeat LIU Brooklyn on Saturday, 55-44, picking up their 14th consecutive victory over the Blackbirds in the process. This is the fifth straight season that RMU has won double-digit NEC contests, and the eighth time since 2009-10.

NOTES: Robert Morris @ St. Francis Brooklyn (2.12.18)

Friend or Foe
St. Francis Brooklyn is currently in a four-way tie for fifth place in the NEC standings with a 5-7 record. The Terriers are one of the most efficient three-point shooting teams in the nation, pacing the conference at 38.1 percent. Sophomore guard Jade Johnson paces St. Francis in scoring at 15.0 points per game and is shooting 43.6 percent (61-140) from beyond the arc. Senior forward Alex Delaney is also averaging double-figures on the scoresheet at 11.3 points per contest, while also leading the team in rebounding (4.9 RPG) and blocked shots (10). Junior guard Amy O'Neill is the NEC leader in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.5 (99 ast, 66 TO).

The Blueprint
Overall: 43-20 | Home: 23-9 | Away: 19-11 | Neutral: 1-0 | Streak: W2
Last Game: Robert Morris 59, St. Francis Brooklyn 36 (1.8.18)
 
Robert Morris owns a 43-20 advantage over St. Francis Brooklyn in the all-time series. The Colonials have won the last two meetings, including a 61-54 decision last season in Brooklyn Heights. In that contest, Nneka Ezeigbo came off the bench to post the first double-double of her career, collecting 18 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes. Mikalah Mulrain added 11 points in 13 minutes as the pair of centers to shoot 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from the floor and 5-of-7 (71.4 percent) from the free throw stripe.
 
On to the Next One
Despite falling behind early in the fourth quarter, Robert Morris picked up its 10th NEC win of the season with a 55-44 triumph at LIU Brooklyn on Saturday. Trailing 39-37 with 7:58 remaining, RMU used a 15-0 run to regain the lead and never relinquish it. Nneka Ezeigbo posted a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double in the victory.
 
Change Clothes
In their first meeting, RMU topped St. Francis Brooklyn, 59-36, on Jan. 8 thanks to a historic defensive performance. The Colonials allowed just a single point in the first quarter, establishing a new school record, and held the Terriers to eight points through 20 minutes. Megan Callahan scored a game-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting for RMU, while Mikalah Mulrain added a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double.
 
The Ruler's Back
The Colonials are represented in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll, occupying the No. 23 spot. RMU made the rankings last week for the first time since Dec. 7, 2011, and is currently receiving 90 points from the voters.
 
Lift Off
RMU has come out of the gates strong this season, owning a 67-point advantage in the first quarter over its 22 games. The Colonials average a lead of 3.0 points heading into the second quarter and have only been behind five times this season after the opening 10 minutes.
 
Empire State of Mind
Brooklyn has been kind to Robert Morris over the past 11 seasons as the Colonials have achieved a 15-4 record during that timeframe in road contests against LIU Brooklyn and St. Francis Brooklyn. That stretch includes a current seven-game winning streak dating back to the 2014-15 season.
 
Can't Knock the Hustle
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 54.8 points per contest, which ranks tops in the NEC and 10th nationally. RMU also paces the conference in field goal defense (.351), which ranks 11th nationally, and sits in the Top 100 in steals per game (10.3, 44th) and turnovers forced (19.36, 40th).
 
Hard Knock Life
Senior center Mikalah Mulrain has 27 blocked shots this season, upping her career total to 161. Mulrain now sits eight shy of Anna Gailite's school record of 169, which she set from 2009-13.
 
22 Two's
Senior forward Megan Smith has raised her game another level since entering NEC play, averaging 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 11 conference contests. Smith is shooting 51.7 percent (46-89) from the floor and 47.6 percent (10-21) on three-point attempts during this stretch.
 
30 Something
On Saturday, LIU Brooklyn became the eighth team this season that the Robert Morris defense has held under 30 percent shooting, as its .289 mark joined Northern Kentucky (.261), Delaware State (.277), Sacred Heart (.280), LIU Brooklyn (.263), St. Francis Brooklyn (.282), Bryant (.298), and Central Connecticut (.294). RMU has now limited 15 opponents to a field goal percentage below .300 since 2016-17.
 
Public Service Announcement
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 17-0 this season. All-time, RMU is 590-0 when leading at the final whistle.

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