Fort Worth, Texas – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team fell just short of its first win over a Power 5 opponent in nine years, as TCU prevailed late, 66-61, this afternoon at Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena in both teams' 2019-20 season opener.
Robert Morris (0-1, 0-0 NEC) rebounded from an 11-point first-quarter deficit to outscore TCU (1-0, 0-0 Big 12), 39-25, over the next two frames, but the hosts regained the lead early in the fourth and finished with six of the last eight points to escape. It would have been the Colonials' fourth win ever against a Power 5 opponent, as they defeated Virginia Tech in 2010 (66-52), West Virginia in 1994 (88-80, OT), and Purdue in 1982 (67-55).
"It's tough to come out on the losing end after such a hard-fought effort," said fourth-year head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "We did a lot of positive things out there today and kept battling back throughout the game. We handled some bad moments and continued to fight, even when the ball didn't go in for us. We started rocky defensively but made some good adjustments, and earned some hard-earned stops – we just weren't able to close it out the way we needed to."
RMU trailed 24-14 at the beginning stages of the second quarter before using a 9-1 surge to pull within two. The Colonials stayed within two for the remainder of the frame to take a 32-30 deficit into the break, but the Horned Frogs scored the first five points out of halftime to make it 37-30.
Holly Forbes shifted the momentum with a reverse layup, and Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu followed that up with a tough bucket inside. After a Ryann Payne basket, Forbes finished with contact for a three-point play, pulling RMU within two at 39-37. The gap became four at the media timeout before Megan Callahan drained a three, and after a pair of traded free throws, Laura Carrasco sliced through a gap to give the Colonials their first lead since the 6:44 mark of the opening frame.
That advantage would last for a brief moment as Jayde Woods sank a pair of free throws, but a Nina Augustin three and two Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu foul shots offset another Woods point to make it 50-47 in favor of the visitors. That score would hold for the remainder of the stanza, giving RMU a three-point lead entering the fourth.
TCU swung back with an 11-4 run to begin the final frame to grab a 58-54 advantage at the media timeout. Augustin sank her third trifecta off the in-bounds to pull the Colonials within one, and Ezeigbo kept the gap there after Woods finished in the paint.
Another three-point play from Woods made it a two-possession game with 1:22 remaining, but Carrasco again found a seam and finished off the glass to make it 63-61. RMU managed to get a stop on the next possession, but the Horned Frogs' length forced a turnover and bucket from Kianna Ray with 11 seconds left. TCU added a free throw late to set the final score.
Augustin finished with a team-high 11 points (3-4 3PT) and six assists, while Forbes joined her in double-figures scoring at 10 points (4-5 FG). Ozzy-Momodu nearly opened the season with her fourth career double-double, posting nine points (3-5 FG) and a game-high 12 rebounds.
Carrasco provided six points (3-4 FG) and five assists in 17 minutes off the bench.
"I told the team that each game has its own identity," said Buscaglia. "We create that identity with how hard we play and the pace we play at. Laura (Carrasco) had a great pace from the very beginning. Not only did she give us good quality minutes when she first entered the game, she was in there down the stretch, and that's a great testament to her work ethic and putting the team in front of herself."
Woods and Lauren Heard led all scorers with 20 points each for the Horned Frogs. Woods also pulled down 10 rebounds to complete a double-double.
Forbes, a junior college transfer from Mineral Area (Mo.) College, became the first newcomer to score double-digit points in their RMU debut since Callahan tallied 14 on Nov. 11, 2017 at Michigan State. She also is the first player to make their inaugural Colonial appearance as part of the starting five since Honoka Ikematsu did it in that same game.
This was the 100th game of Buscaglia's head coaching career.
Robert Morris completes a season-opening two-game road swing on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1:00 p.m. against La Salle.
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