Indianapolis, Ind. – Despite four Colonials in double-figures, a fourth quarter run downed the Robert Morris women's basketball team as it suffered an 83-69 defeat at IUPUI on Thursday evening at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Horizon League action.

With the loss, the Colonials fall to 11-17 overall, behind a 5-14 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, the Jaguars avoid the season sweep and improve to 17-12 this season, with a 13-7 mark in league action.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
It was an offensive struggle for both squads in the opening frame as they traded the first 10 points, four of them coming from sophomore center Danielle Vuletich. IUPUI would score seven straight points to hold a 12-5 lead with 4:46 remaining. Later in the quarter, the two teams would trade the final eight points of the opening frame, as the Jaguars held a 21-15 advantage. The struggle continued to begin the second quarter as both teams combined 0-for-5 shooting from the floor. IUPUI countered by hitting their next three shots, beginning an 8-2 spurt to take a 29-17 lead. Sophomore guard Alejandra Mastral buried a triple to end the run before both squads traded the next 14 points. A turnaround jumper by sophomore Phoenix Gedeon sparked a 7-3 run to end the half as they trailed 39-31.

IUPUI boasted a 9-4 run to begin the second half, connecting on four of their first five shots. Sophomore Rebecca Dwomoh knocked down a three-pointer that started a 12-3 serge, as RMU trimmed the deficit 51-47 with 4:00 minutes remaining. Classmate Simone Morris paced the charge as she bolstered six points during the spurt, going four-of-four from the charity stripe. The Jaguars scored eight of the next 12 points and took a 60-54 advantage into the final frame. Junior Mackenzie Amalia drilled a shot from behind the arc to begin the fourth before IUPUI used a 16-2 run over the next five minutes to stretch their lead. The Jaguars shot 7-for-11 from the field while causing three turnovers during the charge.

THE BURST
Robert Morris was down as many as 13 early in the second half before a 12-3 charge got the Colonials back into the contest. Dwomoh drained a triple from three-point territory before Mastral carded a steal on the next possession. Morris would then connect on a pair of free-throws to cut the lead to 48-40 with 5:56 remaining. A Natalie Anderson trey would push the Jaguars lead back to double digits before RMU scored seven consecutive points to trim the deficit, 51-47 with 4:00 minutes remaining. The Colonials held the Jaguars to one-of-four from the field and collected two steals during the burst.

THE QUARTET
Robert Morris had four players in double-figures, led by Phoenix Gedeon, who was one rebound shy of another double-double. She finished with 15 points and nine boards, four of them coming on the offensive. Danielle Vuletich registered 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor, while Simone Morris chipped in 11 points, five caroms, and a block. She finished five-of-six from the charity stripe. Rebecca Dwomoh was the final Colonial to reach double digits, recording 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a pair of threes in the loss.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior Mackenzie Amalia finished with nine points, all of them coming from three-pointers, while dishing out a team-high four assists and collecting three boards. Sophomore Alejandra Mastral carded eight points, six rebounds, and a team leading four steals in the contest. Mastral also buried a pair of triples.

UP NEXT
RMU wraps up the regular-season when it hosts Youngstown State on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the UPMC Events Center, with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m.

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