HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The RMU women's basketball team opened its 2025-26 #HLWBB schedule with a 60-58 win over Northern Kentucky on Sunday afternoon at Truist Arena. The Colonials now sit at 6-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
 
FIRST QUARTER

• The game started scoreless for the first three minutes of the contest until Myriam Traore got the Colonials on the board with her first three points of the night on a shot from beyond the arc.
• The Colonials went on a 7-0 run at the 5:50 mark to put RMU out 10-2 in front of the Norse. NKU stopped the run with a made three by Noelle Hubert before Traore quickly answered back with her second three of the night.
• With 44 seconds on the clock, the Colonials' lead grew to double-digits with a jumper by Bailey Kuhns, making it 19-9 before Noa Givon hit a buzzer-beater jumper to make it 21-9 going into the second quarter.
• The Colonials shot an impressive 50% from the floor in the first quarter, shooting 8-for-16 from the floor and 2-for-4 from deep. The Norse were held to just 25% shooting to begin the contest. 

SECOND QUARTER

• With 7:56 on the clock, Traore hit her third three-pointer of the contest to give the Colonials their biggest lead of the night, with the Colonials up 24-11.
• The teams traded baskets back and forth over the next seven minutes, with NKU going on a 4-0 run to close out the second quarter.
• A layup by NKU's Maddie Moody with four seconds on the clock cut the Colonials' lead down to single digits, with the Colonials up by nine, going into the third half.
• Both offenses were slowed down in the second quarter as both teams put up a combined 21 points, with RMU only recording nine. 

THIRD QUARTER

• The Norse exploded for a big 19 points third quarter while holding the Colonials to a game-low seven points.
• A big 10-0 run by NKU in the third quarter tied the contest up 34-34 as Maddie Moodie capped the Norse's run with a free throw to tie it, before Jada Lee ended NKU's run with a layup.
• NKU took a three-point lead going into the fourth quarter as the Norse went on a 3-0 run to close out the quarter up 40-37.
• RMU shot a game low 15.37% from the floor in the third quarter, going a mere 2-for-13 and 0-for-4 from deep.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Aislin Malcolm started off the fourth quarter for the Colonials with three straight baskets and six points for RMU to put the Colonials back on top 43-42 before the Norse answered back to regain the lead.
• The team traded baskets before the Colonials went on a 10-0 run to go back up eight over NKU.
• NKU mounted a run of their own to answer back, with the Norse going on a 5-0 run to cut the Colonials' lead back down to three, with RMU up 54-51 with 1:28 on the clock.
• A pair of free throws by Jada Lee extended RMU's lead to six with 39 seconds on the clock before Noelle Hubert hit a three-point shot for NKU to make it 58-55 RMU.
• Eva Levingston hit both free throws with 33 seconds to give RMU a five-point lead before a foul by Myriam Traore put Mya Meredith on the line for three shots. Meredith converted all three shots, making it 60-58, but the Colonials were able to get one more defensive stop with two seconds on the clock to secure the win.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Sophomore Myriam Traore scored a career-high and game-high 17 points to lead the Colonials offensively. Along with her 17 points, Traore pulled down three rebounds along with two blocks, and two steals. Aislin Malcolm finished the contest with 13 points after exploding for 10 points in the fourth quarter. Rounding out double-figure scorers was Bailey Kuhns, who finished with 11 points. Returning to the lineup was Eva Levingston, who pulled down a team-high nine rebounds along with seven points and two steals. Jada Lee led the team in assists with four to go along with six points.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonials will return to Moon Township for a non-conference matchup with California (Pa.) next Saturday at the UPMC Events Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. following the men's contest against Toledo.