MOON TOWNSHIP– A wild week for the RMU women’s basketball team left them with an interim head coach as former head coach Charlie Buscaglia stepped down on Monday.

Leading the Colonials now is a familiar name as Scott Schneider steps in for the second time since 2021-22 when he led the team to the conference tournament. They turned their attention to second-place Green Bay. The Phoenix have never lost to RMU. The last time they met, Green Bay won 72-40.

“I learned a lot. I’ve been here since 2009,” said Coach Schneider. “I’ve seen the highs and what you can call lows. I’m just proud of what this team has done and them buying in.”

The first quarter was slow, with sloppy play and not much scoring, as both teams were looking to figure each other out. RMU opened with a new look with the ball as they had motion and different plays. The Colonials opened the game with 60 percent from three, almost absent from their previous game. From the Phoenix, Natalie McNeal was hot as she opened the game with six points.

The second quarter began with low scoring as both teams could not hold on to the ball. The Colonials began with four in the quarter. It was not a turnover problem for the Phoenix but more of a shooting problem, as they opened the second quarter shooting at only a 12 percent clip. They closed the half at 18. Continuing to shoot at the three, RMU nailed two more in that quarter.

“We got a lot of turnovers. I was happy they made great plays and were bought in. It brought a smile to my face,” Coach Schneider said.

The third saw the Colonials keep living and dying by three, but this time they had life. They opened with two massive threes to cut the lead to a two-point game. RMU was able to keep Green Bay from really getting going. Going perfect from the three helped the Colonials take the lead twice in the quarter, but a buzzer-beater by Jenna Guyer put the Phoenix up by one point heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth, RMU could not get the shots to fall as they opened the final period of play one for four. While it did not kill their game, it did hurt it. But when they needed to get back into the game, they put the press on and went into the paint to cut the score to just four. But it wasn’t enough, as Cassie Schiltz put her team on her back.

“The post-game speech was just me thanking them,” Schneider said. “They cared a lot and I know we can go toe to toe with anyone in the league. I’m so happy we are a good team.”

The Colonials will return on Sunday as they host IUPUI and look to end their losing streak.