Moon Township, Pa. – Despite posting its fifth-lowest scoring total of the season, the Robert Morris University women's basketball topped Wagner, 49-46, remaining in a tie for first place in the Northeast Conference (NEC) standings this evening from the North Athletic Complex.
Robert Morris (22-6, 15-2 NEC) shot just 28.1 percent (18-64) from the floor and 16.7 percent (5-30) on three-point attempts, but forced 29 turnovers to escape with a victory. The 49 points are the fewest for the Colonials in a win since Feb. 2, 2013, when they defeated LIU Brooklyn, 47-41.
"I have to give a lot of credit to Wagner," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "They really worked hard and did some great things defensively. It was a struggle for most of the game. We didn't play with so much fundamentals passing the ball for a while and that allowed their defensive confidence to grow."
Trailing 45-44 in the final minute of the contest, Nneka Ezeigbo – who scored a team-high 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting – used an up-and-under move at the low block to put RMU ahead with 45 seconds on the clock. Megan Callahan then forced a steal on Wagner's (6-22, 4-13 NEC) next possession and sank three of four free throws in the final 35 seconds to seal the victory.
"We caused a turnover jamming the ball in the gap," said Buscaglia of Callahan's steal. "It was a great dig by Nadège (Pluviose), who was in because Megan (Smith) fouled out. We had to go to her there and she did a great job causing a big turnover. (Megan Callahan) was really active on the weak side to get the ball first. I give our kids a lot of credit for getting those stops down the stretch, they really gutted it out."
RMU carried a 14-8 advantage into the second quarter, but then went ice cold from the field. The Seahawks took advantage by going on a 7-0 run to grab a 15-14 lead, and added a 5-0 stretch following a Mikalah Mulrain layup to make it 20-16 at the halftime buzzer.
The Colonials responded following the break, starting with back-to-back three-pointers from Megan Callahan. Mulrain added another layup to complete an 8-0 run, but Wagner would answer with an 8-4 run to tie it at 28-28. Nina Augustin, who was making her first career start, put RMU back ahead with a three-pointer, and Megan Smith added a bucket to make it a five-point game.
Sierra Clark followed that up with a layup, but Nneka Ezeigbo responded with an old-fashioned three-point play to push the lead to six. After Ezeigbo and Joellen How traded baskets, Khaleah Dixon-Edwards buried a trey to pull the Seahawks within three heading into the final stanza.
The visitors scored the opening four points of the fourth to regain the lead, then used another Dixon-Edwards trifecta following a Mulrain bucket to make it 42-40 with 8:54 left. Ezeigbo tied it with a layup two minutes later, then after some empty possessions, Jocelynne Jones found Smith with a pass underneath for a bucket with 3:50 to go.
Jones followed that up with a steal, seeming to give momentum to the Colonials. However, an Alayshia Dailey free throw and Clark jumper put Wagner back in front at 45-44 with 1:47 on the clock.
Augustin and Callahan, who both tallied 11 points, joined Ezeigbo in double figures. Clark led the Seahawks with a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double.
RMU has now held 12 opponents to below 50 points this season and lowered its scoring defense number to 53.9 points per game – 3.6 points per game lower than last season's school record mark of 57.5.
Robert Morris closes out the regular season on Sunday, March 4 at 1:00 p.m. against Mount St. Mary's. A win will clinch at least a share of the Colonials' sixth NEC regular-season championship.
