MOON TOWNSHIP — The Robert Morris Colonials (1-2) could not hang on to beat the Rams of Rhode Island (1-1) down the stretch. The Colonials would fall 46-41.

The Colonials faced their second A10 conference opponent in as many games. The last time the Colonials touched the court, they were led by freshman duo Isabella Posset and Esther Castedo who had 12 points apiece. Robert Morris and the Rams of Rhode Island faced each other for only the second time in program history.

The Colonials found themselves in an early hole. Rhode Island had the only points on the board. The Rams led this game 7-0. URI created early mismatches against RMU. The Rams did a great job to stretch the Colonial defense.

Rhode Island’s defense also came to play. The Colonials gave up the rock six times in the first quarter alone. The Colonials would finally get on the board halfway through the first quarter with a Nneka Ezeigbo basket. Then the Colonials came back with a scoring flurry of their own. The Colonials finished the first quarter on a 12-2 run.

The Colonials defense found their footing in the second half. The Colonials held URI to just two 3-pointers in the second quarter. This game was not a game a fan of strong fundamental basketball would enjoy. The teams combined for an astonishing 27 turnover in the first half. The Colonials shot 17 percent from the field in the first half. The traditionally dangerous team from behind the arc shot just 25 percent.

Coming out of the break, the Rams pressed the Colonials. Breaking a press has troubled the Colonials dating back to last season. The Rhode Island press derailed Robert Morris’s offense for a short time, as the Rams started the second half on an 8-3 run.

Fouls also continued to plague RMU. Before the halfway point of the third quarter, the Colonials committed three fouls. Nneka Ezeigbo and Nadege Pluviose played a majority of the third frame with three or more fouls. More foul trouble came with 1:40 left on the clock in the third, a pass from Rhode Island was thrown into Nicole Jorgensen’s legs. This caused her to trip and Ire Ozzy-Momodu of the Colonials forced a jump ball. Words were exchanged and the referees reviewed the play. The result of the review was offsetting unsportsmanlike penalties.

At the end of the third quarter, the Colonials made as many threes in the quarter then they did in the whole first half. The Colonials held a slim five-point lead, 34-27, heading into the fourth quarter.

The woman who started the scoring for the Colonials going again in the fourth quarter was Ezeigbo. As she battled in the post. She made a hook shot, but not before getting fouled. As the ball went through the net the venue erupted. That’s not the only time fouls played a key role in this game.

Before the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter, the Ram’s committed their fourth team foul. This would put the Colonials in the bonus for the remainder of the game. This game was close throughout, but with 4:28 left on the clock, the teams were tied at 37 all. A quick two-minute scoring burst for Rhode Island put them up 41-37, with a little over two minutes to play.

A quick backdoor cut by Rhode Island’s Elemy Colome would be all the Rams needed to top the Colonials on their own floor. The Colonials fell, 46-41. The Rams ended this game on a 9-4 scoring streak.

The Bowling Green Falcons are up next for the Colonials. That game is in Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 17th at 2:00 p.m.