Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. – Using an efficient offense and lockdown defense, the Robert Morris University women's basketball team remained unbeaten in Northeast Conference (NEC) play with a 75-56 victory over St. Francis Brooklyn this afternoon from the Pope Center.
Offensively, Robert Morris (6-8, 3-0 NEC) eclipsed its previous season highs in points (75) and field goal percentage (.441), while matching its three-pointers made mark of 12 from Nov. 17 at Bowling Green. The Colonials defense held the high-flying St. Francis Brooklyn (8-7, 2-1 NEC) to below its league-leading numbers in scoring (56), field goal percentage (.375), and three-point percentage (.250).
"It was a hard-fought effort," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "We played better for two halves than we did closing out our last game, which is something we focused on. The team responded well in moments where they were pushing forward at us, and I thought St. Francis Brooklyn played hard and continued to fight. It was a good basketball game on both sides."
The Terriers jumped out to an early 4-0 advantage before Nneka Ezeigbo went to work. Ezeigbo slipped through for her first bucket, then pulled down a missed three-pointer and put it home to tie the game. The junior center was in the right spot for another putback on the next possession, giving the Colonials a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Jade Johnson pulled the hosts within one with two of her four three-pointers, making it 13-12 with 1:51 left in the frame. A Mia Ehling free throw tied it briefly, but RMU answered with treys from Natalie Villaflor and Nina Augustin, with the latter converting on an old-fashioned three-point play right after. Maria Palarino's buzzer-beater on the block made it 22-15 after one.
Esther Castedo converted a layup with 5:01 remaining in the half, setting the score at 29-19. St. Francis Brooklyn would never pull within single digits from that point, as the lead grew to 42-25 at the break with a Castedo three-pointer.
The Terriers did manage to give it a go in the third quarter, trimming a 20-point lead to 11 late in the stanza. However, two Ezeigbo free throws and another Augustin trifecta kept the difference comfortable for the Colonials at 56-40.
Ezeigbo ended the game emphatically, putting the cherry on top of her second consecutive double-double (16 pts, 15 reb) with eight points, five rebounds, and two blocks in the final 10 minutes. The 15 caroms tie a career-high for the junior center, who previously met that mark on Dec. 16, 2017 against Clarion.
"Nneka (Ezeigbo) is someone we're looking for with a steady mentality and effort," added Buscaglia of Ezeigbo's performance. "She started to get it going there and closed it out very well. That's what we like, no matter what happens early to continue to battle and close out strong. She did a good job to show leadership and close the game out well, even if shots weren't falling around the rim like she'd want. She stayed relentless."
Castedo added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting off the bench. As a team, RMU dished out 18 assists to just 12 turnovers.
This is the first time since the 2010-11 season that the Colonials have won its first three NEC games by double-digits.
RMU is now 16-0 under Buscaglia when scoring 70 or more points.
Robert Morris continues its Brooklyn swing on Monday, Jan. 14 at 7:00 p.m. against LIU Brooklyn.
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