Rochester, Mich. – An offensive shootout that featured nine lead changes and seven additional deadlocks eventually went in Oakland's favor, as the Robert Morris University women's basketball team fell to the Golden Grizzlies, 83-71, this afternoon in Horizon League from the Athletics Center O'Rena. RMU falls to 3-10 overall and in the league with the loss, while Oakland moves to 9-9 (9-6 HL).
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The second quarter featured the most fireworks offensively, with the teams combining for 52 points over the 10 minutes. Five points from Megan Callahan and buckets by Dahomée Forgues and Sydney Palermo gave RMU its largest lead at 28-18, only for Oakland to respond with an 11-0 burst to regain control at 29-28. The lead traded hands four more times before the hosts got a stop on defense, and they capped a run of six consecutive possessions with a field goal as Teneea Heston's three-pointer made it 44-40 at halftime.
QUOTABLE
"Oakland shot it well today with some good contests and I give them a lot of credit for their offensive efficiency," said RMU head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "When we missed assignments on defensive rotations, they did a nice job of capitalizing at a high percentage. Oakland was different than (Youngstown State), and we must be ready to adjust and disrupt them more consistently than we did today."
EBBS AND FLOWS
Oakland's halftime advantage grew to 11 with 6:16 remaining in the third quarter after a Breanne Beatty trifecta made it 55-44. RMU answered with another 10-0 run, with buckets from Palermo, Nina Augustin, and two by Esther Castedo to make it a one-point game, but the Golden Grizzlies converted a pair of three-point plays and scored eight unanswered to make it 63-54. Forgues kept the Colonials in it however, canning a three near the end of the frame to make it a six-point deficit entering the fourth.
TWO GUARD TANGO
Both of RMU's shooting guards were productive offensively this afternoon, with junior Esther Castedo and sophomore Dahomée Forgues combining for 23 points. Forgues scored 12 points for the second straight Friday, shooting 4-of-7 from the field and 2-of-4 from deep, and added a team-best five assists in a season-high 27 minutes off the bench. Castedo provided 11 points (4-7 FG, 1-1 3PT, 2-2 FT) in 17 minutes to go along with three rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block.
QUOTABLE
"Oakland had some very quick guards that got into the lane well," said Buscaglia. "They did a nice job of creating help and forcing us to rotate. There are some screws we need to tighten in a quick turnaround for tomorrow. We did do a nice job to force multiple shot clock violations today, and we must keep building on those positive defensive moments to add onto our foundation."
YOU GOTTA HAVE SOL
Freshman forward Sol Castro reached double-figures scoring for the fifth consecutive game, tallying 10 points to go with seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Castro is averaging 15.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals over the last five games, and currently owns the team lead in scoring (9.5), rebounding (5.8), steals (1.1), field goal percentage (.432), and minutes played (29.5).
JEKYLL AND HYDE
RMU's offense has been clicking as of late, scoring 60 or more points in each of the last four games, and today it set season bests in points (71), field goal percentage (.419), three-point percentage (.421), and assists (19). Defensively, however, the Colonials allowed season highs in points (83), field goal percentage (.519), three-pointers made (12), three-point percentage (.632), and assists (23).
HIGH HONORS
The visitors were led in scoring by senior guard Nina Augustin, who scored a season-high 13 points. Oakland was led offensively by Kahlaijah Dean, who registered 25 points and nine rebounds, while adding four steals on the defensive end. Autumn Kissman added 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, and Brianna Breedy dished out a game-high seven assists.
NEXT UP
RMU and Oakland return to the O'Rena tomorrow afternoon for a 1:00 p.m. tip on ESPN+.
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