GAME 26
Robert Morris Colonials (19-6, 12-2 NEC) @ Bryant Bulldogs (9-16, 8-6 NEC)
Saturday, February 24, 2018 // 1:00 p.m. // Smithfield, R.I. – Chace Athletic Center
Live Video: NEC Front Row // Live Stats: BryantBulldogs.com

The Capsule
Robert Morris remained unbeaten at home in Northeast Conference (NEC) play on Monday with a 60-49 victory over Sacred Heart in the league's featured game of the night on ESPN3. That win allowed the Colonials to keep pace with Saint Francis U at the top of the NEC standings heading into their final road trip of the regular season. One more win would secure RMU's spot as one of the two NEC Tournament quarterfinal/semifinal hosts, as Saturday's opponent Bryant currently trails the Colonials by four games.

NOTES: Robert Morris @ Bryant (2.24.18)

The Opponent
Bryant has rebounded from a tough non-conference slate and currently sits third in the NEC standings at 8-6. The Bulldogs opened league play with a pair of losses before winning five straight ahead of their first meeting with RMU. Winners of three of its last four, Bryant is led by sophomore forward and reigning NEC Player of the Week Sydney Holloway, who leads the league in rebounding (10.1 RPG) and is third in scoring (17.4 PPG). Junior guard Kierra Palmer paces the NEC in assists at 5.1 per game, while freshman forward Hannah Scanlan tops the conference in field goal percentage (.527).

The Series
Overall: 15-5 | Home: 11-0 | Away: 4-5 | Streak: W2
Last Game: Robert Morris 72, Bryant 49 (1.27.18)
 
Robert Morris leads Bryant in the all-time series, 15-5, but the Bulldogs have won five of nine meetings in Rhode Island.  The previous meeting in The Ocean State was a thriller, with Bryant ending the Colonials' nine-game winning streak in overtime, 62-59. RMU, who had three of its post players foul out in the fourth quarter, was led by Anna Niki Stamolamprou, who had 20 points, six rebounds, and three steals in 44 minutes.
 
Last Time Out
Robert Morris again shot efficiently from the field against Sacred Heart on Monday, picking up a 60-49 win to move to 12-2 in NEC play. Both teams traded 19-0 runs, but the Colonials' sharp shooting ultimately gave them the advantage. RMU shot 55.3 percent (21-38) from the floor and went 9-of-15 (60 percent) on three-point attempts. Megan Callahan scored a game-high 17 points, connecting on 6-of-10 field goal attempts and 5-of-8 casts from international waters.
 
In the Previous Meeting…
RMU put together one of its most impressive performances of the season against Bryant on Jan. 27, excelling in the middle quarters to defeat the Bulldogs, 72-49. The Colonials established a new program standard for best NEC start with the win, thanks in part to their stifling defense. RMU forced a season-high 30 turnovers out of Bryant and held the visitors to 29.8 percent shooting. Offensively, Honoka Ikematsu paced the hosts with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Megan Callahan (12), Jocelynne Jones (12), and Megan Smith joined her in double-figures scoring.
 
In February, We Wear Pink
It has been a tradition for Robert Morris to don pink alternate jerseys during select games in February. It has also been a tradition for the Colonials to win those contests. After its 60-49 triumph over Sacred Heart on Monday, RMU is now 18-1 in pink jerseys since the 2013-14 season, with its lone loss coming during the 2015-16 campaign.
 
Meeting The Mark
With one more victory, the Colonials will reach the 20-win mark for the 11th time in program history. RMU has won 20 games in three of the last four seasons, and rattled off four consecutive 20-win campaigns from 2004-05 to 2007-08.
 
Smith Does It All
Megan Smith has been one of the most reliable players in program history over her four seasons and is on the cusp of joining an exclusive club. With four more assists, she will become just the fourth player in school history to eclipse 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 200 rebounds in a career. The other three players to do so are:
 
Chinata Nesbit (2006-08) - 1,083 pts, 620 reb, 245
Artemis Spanou (2010-14) - 2,124 points, 1,563 reb, 370 ast
Anna Niki Stamolamprou (2013-17) - 1,815 pts, 633 reb, 373 ast
 
50 Shades of Denial
As the season has gone on, RMU's defense has gotten harder and harder to crack. Over the last four games, the Colonials have held each of their opponents to under 50 points, a mark last matched during the 2009-10 campaign. Since 2016-17, RMU has held 21 opponents to below half a century on the scoreboard, going 19-2 in those contests.
 
Lock 'Em Down
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 54.1 points per contest, which ranks tops in the NEC and ninth nationally. RMU also paces the conference in field goal defense (.353), which ranks 12th nationally, and sits in the Top 100 in steals per game (10.1, 45th) and turnovers forced (19.24, 40th).
 
Block Party
Senior center Mikalah Mulrain has 28 blocked shots this season, upping her career total to 162. Mulrain now sits eight shy of Anna Gailite's school record of 169, which she set from 2009-13.
 
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 were 22-0 in such situations during the 2016-17 campaign and 19-0 this season. All-time, RMU is 592-0 when leading at the final whistle.

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