Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team made up a 10-point second half deficit and outscored Fairleigh Dickinson, 23-9, in the fourth quarter to pick up a 62-49 victory over the Knights on Senior Day this afternoon in Northeast Conference (NEC) action from the North Athletic Complex.
After carrying a 23-22 lead into the halftime break, Robert Morris (18-6, 11-2 NEC) saw Fairleigh Dickinson (15-10, 7-7 NEC) score the first nine points of the second half to make it 31-23. Following a Nina Augustin jumper, Courtney Blankenship split a pair of free throws and then sank a three, giving the Knights their biggest lead at 35-25 with 5:08 left in the third quarter.
Megan Callahan began the Colonial comeback, drilling back-to-back threes to make it 35-31. After Jenna Clark answered with a trey on the other end, Callahan found nothing but net once more to keep the gap at four points. Mikalah Mulrain then made one of two free throws, and Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu collected a pair of buckets to complete a 14-3 stretch in 4:22.
The Knights took back the lead with 20 seconds left in the third after two Amina Markovic foul shots. Jocelynne Jones made sure that deficit was short-lived, sinking a corner three to set the score at 42-40 in favor of the hosts. Honoka Ikematsu then found Megan Smith with a pass over the top of the defense, and the senior converted the layup to force a FDU timeout.
The visitors scored three straight points out of the timeout, but Ikematsu rattled home a trifecta to make it a two-possession game. Augustin then got in on the fun with a trey of her own, making it 50-43.
FDU pulled within four with 2:18 remaining after a Natalie Zamora free throw, but Ikematsu found herself open from deep once more and took advantage, sealing the victory with 1:25 to play.
"We continued to play with passion and I continued to tell the players that I loved the energy they were bringing," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "Even though we got into some trouble with fouls that we shouldn't have committed, we were hustling and working. (Fairleigh Dickinson) did a good job at challenging us today. Everyone had to be good today in order for us to be great and to come back and win this game."
RMU's defense allowed FDU to shoot 40 percent (16-40) from the floor and 35.7 percent (5-14) on three-point attempts, both above its season averages. The Colonials locked down in the fourth quarter however, holding the Knights to just a single field goal in 10 attempts.
Ikematsu led all scorers with 12 points, converting 4-of-8 of her three-point attempts. Mulrain and Augustin added 10 points each.
Ozzy-Momodu saw 16 minutes of action off the bench, producing six points (3-5 FG) and a game-high eight rebounds.
Clark and Lauren Francillon tallied eight points apiece to pace the Knights.
Prior to the game, RMU recognized the careers of four seniors (Shakema Dashiell, Jocelynne Jones, Mikalah Mulrain, Megan Smith) as a part of Senior Day festivities.
Robert Morris closes a two-game home stand on Monday, Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m. when it hosts Sacred Heart. The game will be carried both on ESPN3 and NEC Front Row.
