The Robert Morris women’s basketball team knocked off Farleigh Dickinson on Saturday by a final score of 62-49. The Colonials quickly got back to winning form after dropping their previous game to Saint Francis Brooklyn. Their record now stands at 18-6, which includes an 11-2 record in conference play. Here is everything you need to know about the Colonials victory.

Why it happened

This victory did not come easy for RMU, as the final score does not reflect how close the game really was. The score at the half was 23-22 Colonials and it looked as if the Knights had the Colonials rattled. This looked to be even more true when FDU started off the second half with a 9-0 run. The lead was eventually upped to 10 points, but the Colonials did not crumble under the large deficit. Instead, they fought back.

The main factors that played into the win were free throws, defensive pressure, and making big shots. RMU sank 10-of-12 free throws in the second half, and many of these came late in the 4th quarter and were needed to make a possible Knights comeback impossible. The Knights only made 11-of-20 foul shots throughout the second half.

Defensive pressure on the Knights also contributed to them committing 21 turnovers throughout the game. It also led to some foul trouble on the RMU side, but the bench stepped up big.

Lastly, the Colonials made big shots down the stretch. The seven three-balls total helped RMU put together two big runs and take over the game. Nina Augustin and Honoka Ikematsu made big three-pointers towards the end of the 4th, which ultimately led to the Knights being forced to foul the Colonials for the rest of the game.

What it means

This win means a lot for the Colonials as they had dropped two out of their previous three games. It was also senior night which made the victory that much bigger for the four seniors on the team. RMU’s conference record was also improved to 11-2 on the season. For RMU, it was a great test of how they could handle pressure. A full court trap caused a lot of chaos, but the Colonials worked through it. They also trailed by 10 points at one point in the 3rd quarter and seemed to have lost all momentum. Yet, they fought back and proved why they sit in first place in the NEC. This game definitely tested the Colonials in many areas, and they passed with flying colors.

Who starred

This victory was the definition of a great team win. The best stat to resemble that might be the 18 bench points that were scored. 10 of those points came from Nina Augustin. Augustin made a few big three-pointers, as mentioned earlier. She also made clutch free throws towards the end of the game and helped keep the offense composed when they were forced to break the full court press.

Mikalah Mulrain also added 10 points and four rebounds for the Colonials. She was without a doubt a huge post threat in this game. Meghan Callahan and Honoka Ikematsu each shot the three ball especially well and scored 9 and 12 points respectively. No single player took over the game, but the Colonials shined as a unit in this win.

Who stumbled

It might have been senior night, but RMU’s seniors struggled for the most part in this game. Aside from a very solid performance from Mulrain, Megan Smith and Jocelynne Jones struggled. The two shot a combined 3-18 on the night, and both had four fouls in this game and were forced to sit later in the second half. Both still remained active in the win, however, as they helped their teammates remain calm during crucial parts of the game. The Colonials will need Smith and Jones to play like their normal selves in the future if the team wants any postseason success.

Who was there

As mentioned earlier, this was a big team win for RMU. The entire team showed up ready to play and was ready for their number to be called too. The bench was needed as the starters grew tired from the full-court press and their own aggressive tactics on defense. Nine Colonials saw action in this game, and eight of them saw double digits in terms of minutes played. All nine contributed in some way which eventually led to this big win.

Who is next

This big win on senior night will be followed by a game against Sacred Heart on Monday. The Colonials will host the Pioneers, who they beat 91-57 earlier this season while on the road. Following that game, RMU will take on Bryant and Central Connecticut on the road. Monday’s game will be one of three remaining home games for RMU, and only five remain for the regular season.