PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Robert Morris women's basketball team completed a successful home stand by winning its second game in three days, taking down the visiting Detroit Mercy Titans 68-56 at UPMC Events Center. The win moves RMU to 9-10 overall and 7-7 in Horizon League play.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
A back-and-forth first half saw the Titans and Colonials trading chances at both ends in an up-tempo battle. After Sol Castro knocked down a jumper to make it a four-point cushion she managed to find Ashya Klopfenstein with a nice pass before Klopfenstein finished off a slick pivot move in the post to push RMU's lead to six at 23-17. Though the Colonials looked like they were on the precipice of pulling away, Detroit Mercy answered back with a 7-4 run to end the first half of play to keep it a one-possession RMU lead, 29-26. Fourteen first-half turnovers from the Titans aided RMU as they attempted to fight off the DM comeback, scoring 15 of their 29 first-half points off Titans giveaways.
DOUBLE DIP
With the win Sunday, the Colonials finished off a two-game home sweep and have now won three of their last four games at UPMC Events Center. It marks the second time the Colonials have won back-to-back league games at home this season after taking down Cleveland State and Purdue Fort earlier this month.
STEAL CITY
The Colonials forced the Titans into an astounding 25 turnovers, thanks in part to a season-high fifteen steals from Robert Morris. Senior Esther Castedo led the way for the Colonials, recording a new career-high six takeaways in the win. Castedo's previous high of four came all the way back on December 15, 2018 against Pitt Johnstown during her freshman campaign.
QUOTABLES
"I think we're growing as a team. I always tell them in practice, this team is built for March. This is January, and to be built for march means you're a work in progress right now, there's going to be tougher days, but at the end of the day, are we getting better? Detroit threw alot of unique things at us today, and they keep getting better and better each day, but it was a situation where even through the ugliness of certain moments, the team really stuck together." - Associate Head Coach Scott Schneider
"We're actually a team now, whereas before we were more just a collection of talented individuals. It's hard to make a team with a a lot of new girls, and in girls basketball you actually have to like each other, and we do. We are really starting to be a team and encourage each other, so that has been really cool to see." - junior center Ashya Klopfenstein
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
With the game knotted at 52-52 in the third, RMU pulled out an 11-2 run to gain some much-needed breathing room for the final 13 minutes of action Sunday. Mackenzie Amalia led the way with five points in the run as RMU went 5-6 from the field with two steals in 2:43 to build up a 62-52 lead heading into the game's home stretch.
UP NEXT
The Colonials kick off a four-game road swing with a trip to Milwaukee for a showdown with the Panthers this Thursday, February 3 at 8:00 p.m. eastern.
