Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team held off a feisty Wagner comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, coming away with a 51-47 victory over the Seahawks this evening in Northeast Conference (NEC) play from Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center.
Robert Morris (8-6, 3-0 NEC) remained unbeaten in the early stages of the NEC slate, despite turning the ball over a season-high 28 times. The Colonials defense managed to force Wagner (4-10, 0-3 NEC) in 22 mistakes – the ninth time this season they have forced their opponent into 20 or more turnovers – and limited their aerial attack to a 4-of-20 performance from deep.
"These (long) breaks have been a struggle for us," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "We have to figure it out and challenge ourselves in practice. We weren't in sync again and were off with our timing. The next time we have a break, we have to do a better job at being able to attack the defense and grind a little better."
Isabella Posset and Honoka Ikematsu buried back-to-back treys in the second quarter to turn a one-point lead into a seven-point one at 22-15. The Seahawks would pull within four twice in the frame, but a Posset and-one and a Nina Augustin buzzer-beating layup gave RMU a 29-20 advantage at the halftime break.
Wagner used a 7-0 surge to begin the third quarter to trim the gap to 29-27, but the Colonials answered with 13-2 run to grab their biggest lead at 42-29. Holly Forbes and Ikematsu started it off with a layup and trifecta, then Megan Callahan finished a reverse layup. Esther Castedo added a pull-up from mid-range, followed by an Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu bucket. Castedo again buried a jumper with 2:30 left in the stanza to put RMU up 13, and Ozzy-Momodu kept the hosts there at the buzzer with a layup off an inbounds.
The visitors didn't roll over, however, as they used their defense to hold the Colonials without a field goal in the fourth quarter. Wagner pulled within five at 45-40 before RMU scored its first points of the frame with two Ozzy-Momodu free throws, then made it a two-point game with 1:21 remaining after a three-pointer and two foul shots.
The Seahawks had a chance to tie it in the final minute, but Ozzy-Momodu stepped up to block an Alayshia Dailey layup and an Emilija Krista Grava jumper hit the rim. RMU missed a three-pointer on its next possession, but Natalie Villaflor pulled down a big offensive rebound and sank the ensuing free throws to seal the win.
Ozzy-Momodu led the Colonials with 13 points (4-6 FG, 5-7 FT), adding eight rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes. Posset also reached double-figures scoring with 10 points (5-5 FT) and pulled down a career-high nine caroms.
RMU has now won nine straight against Wagner in the all-time series.
Robert Morris continues a four-game home stand on Monday, Jan. 13 at 7:00 p.m. when it hosts St. Francis Brooklyn for Back to School Night. The first 250 students to attend the game will receive a free t-shirt.
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