Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team picked up its eighth double-digit win in 11 Northeast Conference (NEC) contests, remaining unbeaten in league action with a 60-40 victory over Central Connecticut this evening from the North Athletic Complex.
Robert Morris (14-8, 11-0 NEC) overcame a slow start, outscoring Central Connecticut (6-15, 3-8 NEC), 49-24, over the final three quarters. The Colonials' defense was stout once again, as the Blue Devils became the fifth opponent to be held under 30.0 percent shooting, eighth to be kept below 50 points, and the 13th to commit 20 or more turnovers.
"Early on in the game, we weren't making it tough on them defensively," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "We weren't doing the little things. We tightened up some screws and gradually started to become more accountable as the game went on, especially after halftime. The tone was set from that point and we were able gain control of the game, despite not shooting well from the perimeter."
Trailing by seven early in the second quarter, RMU used a 12-2 run to take back the lead and hold it for good. Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu started it off with a layup in the paint, followed by a Honoka Ikematsu trifecta. After Ashley Berube drained a jumper for the visitors, Isabella Posset drained a trey to pull the Colonials within one. Nneka Ezeigbo picked Sydney Hines' pocket and finished to give RMU the lead, then Ikematsu finished among the trees to force a timeout from the Blue Devils.
Just like Saturday against Bryant, the Colonials caught fire to begin the second half. Ezeigbo opened the frame with a putback, followed by a coast-to-coast layup off a Posset steal. The junior center again finished off an offensive board to make it 31-22, then Nadège Pluviose scored after a media timeout. RMU's defense then forced its third turnover over CCSU's first five possessions, turning it into another Ezeigbo layup to complete a 10-0 stretch.
Ezeigbo paced the Colonials with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding seven rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists to stuff the stat sheet. Ikematsu added 14 points, giving her 33 in two games against the Blue Devils this season.
Berube posted a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double for CCSU. RMU held Kiana Patterson to just five points on 2-of-10 from the field, making it four straight games the defense has held the opponent's top scorer to single digits.
With her next steal, Ezeigbo will become the 17th player in program history to collect 100 in a career.
The Colonials' 11-game winning streak is tied for the third longest in school history with the 2014-15 team. Only the 2009-10 (13 wins) and 2007-08 (17 wins) squads have rattled off more consecutive victories.
RMU clinches a berth in next month's NEC Tournament with this win, making it 14 out of the last 15 seasons it has qualified for the league playoffs.
Robert Morris hits the road for a pair of games this coming weekend, starting on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 1:00 p.m. against Mount St. Mary's.
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