Moon Township, Pa. – For the first time in program history, the Robert Morris University women's basketball team defeated a BIG EAST opponent, as it handled Xavier, 71-57, this afternoon at Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center.
Robert Morris (4-3, 0-0 NEC) raced out to a 25-point halftime lead over Xavier (1-5, 0-0 BIG EAST) and pushed the gap as high as 28 points before the Musketeers outscored the Colonials, 40-29, over the final 20 minutes. RMU recorded an assist on 21 of its 26 field goals, forced 26 turnovers, and made a season-high 11 three-pointers.
Nneka Ezeigbo posted the 20th double-double of her career and third this season with 16 points (6-11 FG, 4-4 FT) and 10 rebounds. Holly Forbes (11) and Natalie Villaflor (10) also reached double figures in scoring, with the former adding five rebounds, four assists, four steals, and a pair of blocks.
GALLERY: Robert Morris 71, Xavier 57
"We have to play better with a lead," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "Our screws are loosening up as we get later in the game, and that's not good … we have to have more rebounding, more accountability. We really defending well for most of the game, but down the stretch we needed to be better."
After giving up the game's first points, the Colonials used a 9-2 run to force a Xavier timeout. The Musketeers pulled within three at 9-6 and 11-8, then Isabella Posset drilled back-to-back threes and Esther Castedo finished inside to make it 19-8 after 10 minutes.
The lead quickly ballooned to 22 with a 12-2 surge over the middle portion of the second quarter. Honoka Ikematsu and Villaflor converted from deep to begin the run, then A'riana Gray stopped the run temporarily with a putback. Villaflor buried a mid-range jumper after Nina Augustin made the back end of two free throws, then Augustin sank a trifecta after the media timeout to set the score at 37-15.
Dahomée Forgues' trey to begin the second half gave RMU its largest advantage at 45-17, but Xavier answered with six straight points. The visitors pulled within 20 briefly before Villaflor sank a three, giving the Colonials back the momentum to make it 60-36 through three frames.
The Musketeers ripped off an 18-5 run to trim the deficit to 65-54 with 2:17 remaining, but on the next possession Ezeigbo pulled down two offensive boards before finishing an old-fashioned three-point play to put the game away.
RMU was previously 0-37 against BIG EAST opponents in its history.
Xavier is the fifth Colonial opponent to commit 25 or more turnovers this season. RMU entered the afternoon ranked seventh nationally in turnovers forced with an average of 25.17 per game.
Carrie Gross led the Musketeers with 10 points.
Villaflor's double-digit scoring outing was just the third of her career, and first since tallying a career-high 13 points in the NCAA Tournament First Round at No. 5 Louisville this past March.
Robert Morris completes its 2019 home slate on Saturday, Dec. 7 at noon when it hosts Delaware.
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