Louisville, Ky. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team concluded its 2018-19 season with a 69-34 loss to top-seeded Louisville this afternoon in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament First Round. The Colonials finish the campaign at 22-11 overall, while the Cardinals move to 30-3.
Robert Morris (22-11, 16-2 NEC) held Louisville (30-3, 16-2 ACC) – ranked No. 5 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches' Polls – under the 70-point mark for the sixth time this season, joining Arizona State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Pittsburgh in that department. Natalie Villaflor scored a career-high 13 points for the Colonials, which is a new record for a RMU freshman in NCAA Tournament contest.
"I'm very proud of my team," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "We didn't get off to the best start when it came to finishing and knocking some shots down, but I think the arena today saw how a team could continue to fight and work hard, stay together, even when things get tough. We continued to defend and just kept going to the next play, which is what we've always been teaching."
Asia Durr, the ACC Player of the Year, knocked down a three to open the game, but Nneka Ezeigbo answered with a jump hook in the paint. Durr then sank a pair of free throws, and Ezeigbo answered with a long jumper just inside in the arc to make it 5-4. The Cardinals took over from there, racing out to a double-digit lead.
RMU closed the first half strong, using an 11-5 run to set the halftime score at 37-15. Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu scored all six of her points in the frame, first finishing off a Honoka Ikematsu pass in the paint. The sophomore center sank a pair of free throws, then Villaflor gathered a loose ball at halfcourt and finished on the fastbreak. After a Kayla Shook layup, Villaflor drilled a triple from the wing, and Ozzy-Momodu made two more free throws to swing some momentum back in the visitors' favor.
The Colonials pulled within 20 in the third quarter with an Ikematsu three, Ezeigbo put-back, and Nia Adams free throw. After Louisville responded with an extended rally to make it 60-23 after three quarters, Villaflor sank back-to-back threes to eclipse her career high in points. A tough layup with 1:59 remaining gave the freshman her 13th point, surpassing Anna Niki Stamolamprou's previous mark of 12 in the 2014 NCAA Tournament against Notre Dame.
"I thought we really finished the game," said Buscaglia. "Even though the ball didn't go in, there was no lack of effort or no putting our head down, even though going against Louisville. With how tough they are, we didn't back down and kept going. I'm very proud of the effort today."
Ezeigbo finished a point and rebound shy of her third straight double-double, tallying nine in both categories on 4-of-9 shooting. Ozzy-Momodu added six points and eight caroms.
Durr and Sam Fuehring both scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Cardinals.
Robert Morris was making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four seasons and sixth overall, despite having a roster that features 69.2 percent underclassmen. Adams and Shakema Dashiell were the lone seniors on this season's team, with the Colonials slated to return Ezeigbo, the NEC Defensive Player of the Year and NEC Tournament MVP, an All-NEC Rookie Team selection in Isabella Posset, and All-Tournament Team pick in Nina Augustin.
"You build a program by bringing in student-athletes that will create stability and work hard," said Buscaglia. "You can see at a mid-major level, there's a great experience there to choose and go to and play in meaningful games, conference tournaments, conference championships, and then get to this stage. Whether you win or lose, when you get a draw like Louisville, you go out here and leave everything on the court and earn everything you get. That's the message going forward, and that's what we'll continue to do with the program."
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