Women's Basketball | 11/30/2019 1:16:00 PM
Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University women's basketball continues a three-game home stand on Sunday, Dec. 1 at noon when it hosts Big East opponent Xavier. This is the first time in 5,108 days that the Colonials have welcomed a Big East foe to Moon Township, the last being Pittsburgh on Dec. 6, 2005. After this three-game stretch at Peoples Court at UPMC Events Center, RMU embarks on a season-long five-game road trip that carries into the New Year.
GAME #7
Xavier Musketeers (1-4, 0-0 Big East) @ Robert Morris Colonials (3-3, 0-0 NEC)
Sunday, December 1, 2019 // Noon // Moon Township, Pa. – Peoples Court at UPMC Events Center (4,000)
Live Video: NEC Front Row // Live Stats: RMUColonials.com
Notes Package: Xavier // Robert Morris
History w/ Xavier
Overall: 0-4 | Home: 0-0 | Away: 0-4 | Neutral: 0-0 | Streak: L4
Last Game: Nov. 30, 2014 – Cincinnati, Ohio – Xavier 70, Robert Morris 65 (OT)
In a series that has dated back to 1996, Robert Morris has yet to get the better of Xavier in four tries, losing all previous matchups. This will be the first time the Colonials and Musketeers will meet in Moon Township, and the first meeting between the two sides in five years.
The previous clash was the closest yet, as Xavier escaped with a 70-65 victory over RMU in overtime. Anna Niki Stamolamprou '17 led all scorers with 20 points (8-12 FG, 2-4 3PT) in 45 minutes, while Ashley Ravelli '16 provided 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting. A three-pointer by the Musketeers' Jenna Crittendon with 29 seconds left in regulation sent the contest to an extra frame.
The Colonials opened their 2008-09 campaign with a 79-49 defeat at then No. 22/25 Xavier. Monet Johnson nearly posted a double-double against the Musketeers, leading the visitors with 19 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. In her team debut, Monica Jones '10 added 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting in 19 minutes.
Scouting the Musketeers
First-year head coach Melanie Moore was hired in April after spending seven seasons at Michigan, including the 2018-19 campaign as the associate head coach. She picked up the first head coaching victory of her career with a 70-63 triumph against Utah on Nov. 7, but has since dropped four straight to Temple (65-78), Rider (57-64), Ball State (49-70), and Wright State (74-86).
Junior forward A'riana Gray is the team's leading scorer at 15.7 points per game, but she hasn't played since Nov. 16 at Rider. Sophomore guard Cassie Cross is also averaging double figures on the scoresheet at 10.2 points per contest, and is converting at a team-best 45.8 percent clip from the field. Fellow second-year Lauren Wasylson, a product of nearby Mars High School, paces Xavier with nine three-pointers made.
The Musketeers are in the top 60 nationally in three-point percentage, sinking 36.0 percent of their attempts, and their 81 turnovers committed are the 71st fewest in Division I. Xavier struggles at the free throw stripe (.588, 315th out of 348) and in blocked shots (1.8, 314th out of 348).
30, 20, 30
This past Wednesday, Robert Morris completed one of its best defensive performances in program history, holding Pitt-Johnstown to just 30 points in a 68-30 victory. The Colonials last held an opponent to 30 points or fewer on Dec. 8, 1983, when they defeated Saint Francis U, 88-30.
RMU swiped 23 Mountain Cat steals in the win, the second most in single-game history. The Colonials also forced a season-high 35 turnovers from UPJ, the highest mark since tallying 36 in that department on Nov. 15, 2011 at Kent State.
No Easy Outs
There hasn't been an easy out in the early stages of the Colonials' schedule, as their six opponents have combined to post a 26-10 record thus far. TCU remains undefeated at 5-0, while both La Salle (5-1) and Pitt-Johnstown (6-1) have suffered defeat just once this season. Kent State (4-2), Columbia (3-3), and Youngstown State (3-3) are all at .500 or better.
RMU's three losses this season have come by a combined eight points. The remainder of the non-conference slate doesn't get much easier for the Colonials, as Rhode Island (3-2), Norfolk State (3-3), and James Madison (5-1) all own records of .500 or better. Xavier (1-4) and Delaware (1-4) are the only two teams currently on RMU's schedule with losing marks.
The Defense (Never) Rests
Robert Morris prides itself on its defense and this season is no different. The Colonials rank seventh nationally in turnovers forced (25.17), 15th in turnover margin (+8.83), 17th in steals (13.0), and 74th in scoring defense (58.3) - all of those numbers topping the conference circuit.
Last season, RMU slotted 12th in the NCAA in scoring defense (55.3), 24th in turnovers forced (20.18), 26th in turnover margin (+4.18), and 32nd in steals (9.9). The Colonials have posted a top-25 scoring defense in each of the last three seasons, coming in at 25th in 2016-17 (57.0), and eighth in 2017-18 (54.1). The 2017-18 mark in a school record, breaking the previous standard set the year prior.
RMU is in the midst of an impressive streak, causing double-digit turnovers in each of its last 138 games. In 63 of those contests, the Colonials have forced 20 or more turnovers from their opponent.
Nneka Hits 1,000
In her 100th appearance at Robert Morris, senior center
Nneka Ezeigbo became the 24th member of the 1,000 point club. Ezeigbo entered the Colonials' game at Kent State needing just three points to eclipse the milestone, and did it just 2:30 into the game with a jumper in the paint. She is the first RMU player since
Megan Smith '18 (Dec. 31, 2017 at Sacred Heart) to achieve the feat, and finished the afternoon with 18 points and nine rebounds in just 17 minutes.
It's been a steady climb in the scoring category for Ezeigbo in her collegiate career. Primarily a key reserve in her first two seasons, she averaged 6.8 points per game as a freshman before increasing that mark to 10.4 as a sophomore. Last season, the center averaged 12.5 points per contest and entered 2019-20 just 64 points shy of the milestone. Ezeigbo is currently averaging 14.8 points per game, thanks in part to four straight performances of double-digit points.
Dunks & Donuts
An early tip hasn't bothered Robert Morris much since 2011-12, as it owns a 10-3 record in games that have begun before 11:30 AM local time. That includes a 8-2 mark at home, with wins over Akron (2011-12), Bryant (2012-13), Marshall (2013-14), Fairleigh Dickinson (2014-15), West Virginia Wesleyan (2015-16), Point Park (2016-17), Delaware State (2018-19), and Pitt-Johnstown (2019-20).
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 are 3-0 in such situations this season, and went 22-0 last season. All-time, RMU is 623-0 when holding the lead at the final whistle.
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