GAME 9
RMU (6-2 / 1-1 #HLWBB) @ West Virginia (6-1 / 0-0 #Big12WBB)
Thursday, December 7, 2022 | 7:00 p.m.
WVU Coliseum | Morgantown, W.Va.
 
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Nick Farrell (pxp), Warren Baker (color)
Audio: RMU Athletics Gameday App
Twitter & Instagram: @RMUWBasketball
 
Opening Tip

• Robert Morris continues its road slate when it travels to Morgantown, W.Va. when it takes on the Mountaineers in non-conference action at the WVU Coliseum on Thursday night.
• The Colonials opened Horizon League action last week, splitting a pair of conference matches. RMU captured a dominating 68-47 victory at Wright State (12/2) before dropping a 69-54 decision at Northern Kentucky (12/4).
• Against the Raiders, three Colonials scored in double figures led by sophomore forward Phoenix Gedeon. Gedeon finished with 15 points and a career high 19 rebounds as the 19 boards are the most since Artemis Spanou collected 20 rebounds against Saint Francis University in 2014.
• Also in double-digits was Freshman forward Paris Kirk who recorded 12 points off the bench, while shooting 4-of-5 from the floor and a perfect 3-of-3 from downtown. Sophomore Alejandra Mastral finished with 10 points and three assists in 32 minutes of action.
• As a team, Robert Morris shot 24-of-59 (40.7 percent) from the floor and a season best 54.5 percent (12-for-22) from behind the arc, connecting on 12 three pointers.
• At Northern Kentucky, the Colonials struggled offensively, shooting just 15-for-56 (26.8 percent) from the floor and 18.2 percent (2-11) from behind the arc. On the plus side, RMU continues to be consistent at the charity stripe, converting 22-of-30 (73.3 percent). It's the fourth time this season that they have shot 70.0 percent or better from the free-throw line.
• Sophomore Simone Morris paced the Colonials with a career high 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, while converting 10-of-14 from the charity stripe. Gedeon registered 12 points and six boards as she was a perfect six-of-six from the free-throw line. Junior guard Mackenzie Amalia finished with seven points, one rebound, one assist, and one steal, while sophomore guard Alejandra Mastral collected six rebounds.
• Mackenzie Amalia has been a productive floor general for the Colonials through the first eight games. She currently leads the team and sits second in the conference with 3.4 assists per game, while pacing the Horizon League with 27 total assists. Amalia has registered three or more assists in six of eight games to begin the season.

 
West Virginia Links
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats
Video
RMU Athletics Gameday App

All-Time Series (West Virginia) – This will be the 19^th all-time meeting between the Colonials and Mountaineers. This will be the first meeting since 2005, where West Virginia captured an 80-54 victory in Morgantown. The Mountaineers have won the last nine meetings between these two squads with Robert Morris capturing their last victory in 1994 with an 88-80 victory in overtime in Moon Township.

West Virginia Notes – West Virginia comes in with a 6-1 overall record and currently sits tied for fifth in the Big 12. The Mountaineers are playing their third-consecutive home game after capturing an 89-58 victory over NC Central (11/30) before securing a 63-47 win over Delaware State (12/3). West Virginias defense has been remarkable to begin the season as they currently rank fifth in the country in scoring defense, holding teams to 49.4 points per game. The Mountaineers continue to give opponents offense problems as they are forcing 26 turnovers a game, which sits sixth in the NCAA. Fifth-year Madisen Smith leads West Virginia in scoring at 15.1 points per game, while scoring in double figures in every contest this season. She is tallying 2.6 steals per game, while sophomore JJ Quinerly sits second on the team with 10.4 points per game. Redshirt sophomore Kyah Watson leads the team with 5.4 rebounds per game, while dishing out a team leading 3.3 assists.

Defensive Attack – Robert Morris continues to give opponents problems to begin the season, ranking first in the country in three-point defense at 18.9 percent. Four different Colonials are averaging over a steal a game led by Amalia at 1.9, which ranks tied for third in the conference. As a team, RMU is holding teams to 51.4 points per game, which ranks 11^th in Division I. They're currently forcing over 22 turnovers a game, which paces the Horizon League.

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