RMU women secure league crown
season championship that we earned and they shouldn’t feel any less than that,” Buscaglia said. “We’ll see what happens with the tiebreaker for whatever it is and we’ll see where we are. No matter where we are, we just have to go out there and play the games.
In his inaugural season as head coach a year ago, Buscagliahad the benefit of leaning on then-senior Anna Niki Stamolamprou, who graduated as one of the best players in program history. The NEC player of the year was one of the best all-around players in the conference, averaging 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.8assists a game.
Her departure left Robert Morris with a void — which the coaching staff opted to do with a by-committee approach. Entering Sunday, the Colonials were one of two teams in the NEC that had just one player —sophomore forward Nneka Ezeigbo at 10.2 points per game — averagingdouble figures.
Bryant is the other team, and its leading scorer, Sydney Holloway, is the thirdbest scorer in the conference at 17.5 points per game. Ezeigbo is 21st. That, combined with Robert Morris’ stout defense, has helped the Colonials put together another dominant season. As of Sunday, the Colonials were holding teams to 54.2 points per game — the best mark in the conference by the wide margin.
“We all play as a team, serve each other, be there for each other,” senior forward Mikaylah Mulrain said. “Communication’s a big key that we focus on, and just making sure that everyone’s on the same page has really helped us, especially on the defensiveend.”
Robert Morris also has been helped by having two good 3-point shooters in the starting freshmen guard duo of Honoka Ikematsu and Megan Callahan. Ikematsu is the conference’s best 3-point shooter, hitting 45.8 percent of her attempts, and Callahan isfourth at 39.6.
The Colonials need some help to surpass Saint Francis in the RPI standings, as the Red Flash beat Wagner Sunday, 86-55. Regardless, Robert Morris will be the host of at least two NEC tournament games.
“Whether you win a tiebreaker or not, it is a regularseason championship that we earned and they shouldn’t feel any less than that,” Buscaglia said. “No matter where we are, we just have to go out there and play the games.”