Women's Basketball | 3/6/2018 1:40:00 PM

GAME 30
#7 Central Connecticut Blue Devils (7-22, 7-11 NEC) @ #2 Robert Morris Colonials (23-6, 16-2 NEC)
2018 Northeast Conference Tournament presented by StartWire Quarterfinals
Wednesday, March 7, 2018 // 4:30 p.m. // Moon Township, Pa. – North Athletic Complex
Live Video: NEC Front Row // Radio: 104.7 HD 2 & iHeart Radio App // Live Stats: RMUColonials.com
Adam Gusky, play-by-play; Justin Pyles, color commentary
 
NEC Tournament Headquarters – Robert Morris

The Capsule
Robert Morris begins its quest for a third consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament championship on Wednesday, March 7 in a quarterfinal contest against seventh-seeded Central Connecticut. If the Colonials were to win the program's eighth NEC Tournament title, they would become just the fourth team in league history to win three straight crowns. A triumph over the Blue Devils would also be RMU's 24th win this season, tying the school record first established by the 2006-07 team.

NOTES: Central Connecticut @ Robert Morris (3.7.18)

The Opponent
Central Connecticut enters the NEC Tournament with the No. 7 seed after finishing conference play with a 7-11 mark. The Blue Devils split on the final weekend of the regular season, topping St. Francis Brooklyn in overtime, 83-77, before falling to LIU Brooklyn, 57-63. Junior guard Kiana Patterson paces the team in scoring (13.8 PPG) and assists (3.3 APG), while ranking third in the NEC in three-point percentage (.409). Fellow third-year Andi Lydon is also averaging double-figure points (10.9 PPG) and paces CCSU in rebounding (6.2 RPG).

The Series
Overall: 25-14 | Home: 18-3 | Away: 7-11 | Streak: W6
Last Game: Robert Morris 67, Central Connecticut 51 (2.26.18)
 
This will be the second straight season that RMU and Central Connecticut have met in the NEC Tournament. The Colonials, who own a 25-14 edge in the all-time series and a 18-3 mark in Moon Township, defeated the sixth-seeded Blue Devils in last year's NEC semifinals, 70-62. Nneka Ezeigbo led all scorers with 18 points (8-13 FG) off the bench, while Anna Niki Stamolamprou (15) and Rebeca Navarro (11) also tallied double figures for RMU.
 
RMU in the Playoffs is…
> 19-2 in home contests
> 9-2 all-time as the No. 2 seed
> 2-0 all-time against the No. 7 seed
 (W, 77-62 vs. SFBK in 2008; W, 69-55 vs. FDU in 2007)
> 2-0 against Central Connecticut in the postseason
 (W, 70-62 in 2017 semis; W, 72-39 in 2005 quarters)
> 12-5 all-time in the NEC Tournament quarterfinals
 
Perennial Playoff Potential
Robert Morris is participating in its 13th NEC Tournament over the last 14 seasons. RMU had rattled off eight consecutive postseason appearances from 2004-05 to 2011-12, finishing first in three of those seasons. This is the sixth time that the Colonials have entered the NEC Tournament as the No. 2 seed, capturing the title on three occasions (1988, 2007, 2008). None of the players on this season's roster were born the last time RMU lost as the No. 2 seed, as that came on March 11, 1989 against top-seeded Wagner (L, 60-66).
 
A Date With Eight
RMU has won seven NEC Tournament championships in its history, including three over the past four seasons. That is the second most in league history behind Saint Francis U, who has won 11 titles. However, the Colonials have won five of their crowns since 2006-07, which is more than twice as much as any other institution during that span.
 
Champs Once Again
The Colonials captured their sixth NEC regular-season championship on Sunday, having finished tied at the top of the standings with Saint Francis U at 16-2. RMU previously finished at the top of the NEC table in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, and 2016.
 
A New Standard
RMU's victory over Mount St. Mary's was its 23rd of the season, a feat that has only been accomplished four other times. A triumph in the NEC Tournament quarterfinals would tie the school record of 24, set by the 2006-07 team that finished 24-8.
 
Last Time Out
Robert Morris won a share of the NEC regular-season title with a 66-54 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Sunday. The win just the Colonials' second this season when trailing after the first quarter, as the team used a 33-9 run over the second and third frames to secure the victory. Megan Callahan led RMU with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting, while Nneka Ezeigbo and Nadège Pluviose added nine points each off the bench.
 
Smith Starts for RMU
Senior forward Megan Smith has been a fixture in the starting lineup since arriving in Moon Township from Barrie, Ontario, appearing in the first five a total of 122 times. Smith's next start will give her sole possession of the program record for career starts as she currently shares the honor with Artemis Spanou (2010-14) and Anna Niki Stamolamprou (2013-17).
 
Block Party
Senior center Mikalah Mulrain has 34 blocked shots this season, upping her career total to 168. Mulrain now sits two shy of breaking Anna Gailite's school record of 169, which she set from 2009-13.
 
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 53.9 points per contest, which ranks tops in the NEC and eighth nationally. RMU also paces the conference in field goal defense (.362), which ranks 26th nationally, and sits in the Top 100 in steals per game (10.3, 33rd) and turnovers forced (19.93, 28th).
 
Insurmountable Lead
Robert Morris has never lost a game in which it has held the lead at the end of the second half. In such situations, the Colonials are 23-0 this season and 31-0 in the NEC Tournament. All-time, RMU is 596-0 when leading at the final whistle.

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