Staten Island, N.Y. – For the third consecutive season, the Robert Morris University women's basketball team established a new program record for best Northeast Conference (NEC) start, moving to 12-0 with its largest margin of victory of 2019-20, a 77-35 triumph at Wagner this evening from the Spiro Sports Center.
Robert Morris (17-6, 12-0 NEC) toppled Wagner (8-14, 4-7 NEC) by 42 points, 38 more than their previous meeting on Jan. 11. The margin of victory is the 13th largest in school history and third largest on the road, behind last year's 89-37 triumph at LIU Brooklyn and the 83-40 win at Mercyhurst during the 1983-84 season.
"We worked very hard and completed this road trip with a complete team effort tonight," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "Our focus and preparation was strong going into tonight and we got better as the game progressed. Wagner battled us very hard at home earlier this season, and we definitely needed to tighten up some screws."
Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu had a career night, registering her fourth consecutive double-double with a career-high 23 points (9-11 FG, 5-7 FT), 15 rebounds, and three steals in 22 minutes. Isabella Posset added 14 points (4-8 FG, 4-4 FT) and three steals, and Honoka Ikematsu joined the pair in double figures with 10 points (2-5 3PT).
Nneka Ezeigbo opened the game with a layup, but fell into foul trouble shortly after and gave way to Ozzy-Momodu. The junior immediately went to work, splitting a pair of free throws and adding a bucket to put the Colonials ahead 5-0. She provided two more baskets after a 7-0 run from the Seahawks, and gave the visitors four more points at the end of the frame to make it 20-10 through 10 minutes.
Ozzy-Momodu's run continued into the second quarter with a three-point play 11 seconds in. The gap hovered around 11 until the 2:35 mark, when three points from Ozzy-Momodu, a pair of Posset free throws, and an Ikematsu layup set the halftime tally at 39-23.
It took just 53 seconds of the second half for Ozzy-Momodu to establish a new career high, as her layup kickstarted a 17-2 surge to extend the difference to 56-25. RMU used a 16-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to grab its largest lead at 74-30, and it coasted from there to grab its 12th NEC victory.
The Colonials previously started the 2017-18 and 2018-19 conference slates with 9-0 and 11-0 marks, respectively. RMU has now won nine straight by double digits, and has an average margin of victory of 23.2 points per game in the NEC.
"We are very focused on our next opponent and just have a 'one moment at a time' culture," said Buscaglia of the record. "I'm very proud of our passion to achieve these records by not thinking about them at all, and just valuing coming to work every day trying to get better. That's how all these achievements are possible."
Ozzy-Momodu had a double-double in the first half, matching her previous best in scoring with 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds. The junior is averaging 12.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 17.4 minutes during conference play, and is shooting at a 61.2 percent clip.
"(Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu) has taken some great steps in her development," added Buscaglia of his junior center. "She stepped up again tonight when adversity came. She finished very well around the basket and worked her tail off on the defensive end … (Nneka Ezeigbo) also kept a great attitude to be ready when we needed her to come back and play with the foul trouble in the second half."
Since 2000, only 2004 Saint Francis U, 2009 Sacred Heart, and 2013 Quinnipiac have started the NEC schedule at 12-0. All of those teams finished the league slate unbeaten, something the Colonials can also achieve with six more wins.
Robert Morris returns to Moon Township for its first of two split home-road weekends, beginning with a tilt against Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, Feb. 15 at Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center. Opening tip is set for 4:00 p.m., with Senior Day ceremonies recognizing Nneka Ezeigbo preceding the game.
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