MOON TOWNSHIP– The Robert Morris University Colonials (3-3) cruised by the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats (6-2, 2-0 PSAC) by a score of 63-30.
The early story for the visiting Mountain Cats was empty possessions. Whether it was their ice-cold shooting, 0-8 from the field, or the 13 turnovers, UPJ struggled in the first quarter. Their only points came from a pair of Maddie Shanahan free throws. Robert Morris would waste no time, jumping out to a 15 point lead. The Colonials capitalized on the turnovers by scoring 13 points off the Mountain Cats’ lack of ball control. Robert Morris led 17-2 after one quarter.
UPJ would finally make a field goal at the 6:08 mark in the second quarter. Olivia hit two three-pointers to give the Mountain Cats their only points of the second quarter. RMU would benefit from another seven UPJ turnovers. The Colonials dominated in the paint, scoring 16 points inside. Nneka Ezeigbo led all scorers with eight points. Holly Forbes had arguably the best overall first half. The junior tallied four points, seven rebounds and four steals. Robert Morris went into the locker room for halftime leading 33-8.
“You gotta stay focused,” said RMU head coach Charlie Buscaglia. “Even when they didn’t put the ball in the basket. (We) looked at what they were doing to disrupt us defensively. You can’t get locked into the end result. There’s some games where someone scores 20 or 30 on you in a half.”
Robert Morris came out the break looking like a team that was trailing. Isabella Posset had a pair of steals that resulted in easy layups for the Colonials. Posset started the second half with two points. By the halfway point of the third quarter, the sophomore guard had 10 points.
The lid would finally come off the bucket for UPJ in the third quarter. After being held to eight points in the first half, the Mountain Cats scored 12 points in the third quarter.
RMU still sat comfortably in the driver’s set heading into the fourth quarter, 53-20. There was a scary moment in the fourth quarter for the Colonials. Junior center, Ire Ozzy-Momodu went for a loose ball and suffered an injury, she didn’t return to the game.
The Colonials rode their big lead from the third quarter into the finish. Forbes had arguably the best game in her young Robert Morris career. She finished with four points, 13 rebounds and five steals. Coach Buscaglia knew that Forbes could be this type of player when they recruited her from Mineral Area College.
“She fits our culture very well,” explained Buscaglia. “When we recruited her it was something that we noticed right away is that she would thrive in our system. You can see her physicality, effort and the ability for her to go out there and bang at this level. We are very pleased with her.
The Colonials took the lead and never looked back. When the final horn sounded, the Colonials defeated the Mountain Cats 63-30.
The Colonials’ next game is on Sunday, Dec. 1 against Xavier (1-4). That game will be at the UPMC Events Center. Tip-off is set for noon.
