Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball team continued its unbeaten run through the Northeast Conference (NEC), upping its winning streak to 13 games with a 53-35 victory against Fairleigh Dickinson this afternoon from Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center.
Robert Morris (18-6, 13-0 NEC) netted its 10th consecutive win of double digits, with the 18-point difference being the third lowest margin of victory over this stretch. The Colonials dominated in the paint with a 38-12 point advantage, and held Fairleigh Dickinson (8-15, 5-7 NEC) to 31.0 percent (13-42) shooting, including a 12.5-percent (2-16) mark from beyond the arc.
"We had to step up today – (Fairleigh Dickinson) plays so hard," said head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "Their culture is amazing and we had to be tough to match up with their physicality and accountability on the defensive end. I tip my hat to them, we had to be good today with our culture and couldn't have any bad moments. It was a quality win today. When you don't hit a three and you're still able to control the pace of the game, I'm most proud of that."
Nneka Ezeigbo had an afternoon to remember on her Senior Day, setting a new season high in scoring with 26 points (10-13 FG, 6-10 FT). Ezeigbo was the only Colonial with double figures in points, and she added seven rebounds, three steals, and a block in 35 minutes. As a team, RMU converted 42.0 percent (21-50) of its field goals, despite failing to make a three-pointer for the first time since Feb. 18, 2013 at Quinnipiac.
Neither team could gain an edge in the early going before the Colonials used a 6-0 run at the end of the first quarter to go ahead 15-9. That gap grew to 10 to start the second frame with back-to-back Ezeigbo buckets, but the Knights responded with an 11-7 rally to pull within six. However, Esther Castedo freed herself at the free throw stripe on the half's last possession, sinking a mid-range jumper to make it 28-20 at the break.
FDU kept battling and again trimmed the difference to six at 30-24, but RMU rattled off an 8-0 surge to take control. Buckets from Dahomée Forgues and Castedo sandwiched four Ezeigbo tallies, making it 38-24 at the second media timeout of the third quarter. The lead never dipped below 10 from there, reaching its peak of 53-43 with 2:02 left after Ezeigbo finished a putback layup.
The Colonials' current 13-game winning streak is tied for the second longest in program history, matching a run from the 2009-10 team. The longest undefeated stretch in school annals belongs to the 2007-08 side, who went 17-0 over a two-month span from Jan. 16 to March 16.
Ezeigbo's 10th career 20-point performance moved her into the top 10 all-time in scoring at RMU with 1,279 points. The senior ranks fifth in program history in rebounds (816) and blocks (103), sixth in field goals made (528), ninth in points and steals (162), and 10th in games played (119).
"(Nneka Ezeigbo) has developed each of our four years," said Buscaglia of his senior center. "I can remember that freshman who walked in the door and didn't have a clue of what NCAA Division I basketball was like. I'm just proud of how steady she has become, and today she was really solid in there and had great pace around the basket. They were running at her at all angles, but she was very poised and saw the double teams."
The Colonials previously went 221 games with at least one three-pointer made before failing to do so this afternoon.
RMU clinched at least one NEC Tournament home game with today's victory, securing a top-four finish for the seventh consecutive season and 10th time in 11 years.
Robert Morris hits the road on Monday, Feb. 17 for the first matchup of its Keystone State rivalry with Saint Francis U. Opening tip is set for 7:00 p.m. from DeGol Arena.
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