MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team (11-5, 3-2 NEC) fell at Robert Morris University, 69-56 in a Northeast Conference contest on Saturday afternoon at the Sewall Center. The game was a closely contested affair throughout the first half, featuring six lead changes and two ties, but the Colonials (8-7, 5-0 NEC) opened up a double-digit lead in the second half en route to the win. The loss is Monmouth's first this season when leading at halftime.
MU placed three players in double-figures, led by sophomore Erin Rooney's (Christchurch, N.Z. /Marian College) 14 points, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Alysha Womack (Springfield, Pa. /Cardinal O'Hara) contributed 12 points, adding three triples, while forward Abby Martin (Maplewood, N.J. /Columbia) had 10 points and six rebounds.
The Hawks took an early 8-4 lead with just over four minutes gone by in the first half, paced by six quick points from Martin. Womack buried a triple from the top of the key to give MU a 16-8 advantage with 12:37 remaining in the opening half.
RMU was able to take the lead at 19-17 with 7:13 showing on the first half clock after an 11-1 scoring run, keyed by six straight points from Yohanna Martin. However, Womack gave Monmouth a one-point lead on its next possession after another three-pointer from straight away.
The Hawks took a 30-25 lead into halftime behind nine first-half points from Womack. MU connected on 5-of-9 of its three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes, while the Colonials, who scored 20 of their first-half points in the paint, were led by Artemis Spanou's eight points.
Despite a pair of jumpers from sophomore Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, N.Z. /Massey), the Colonials held a 47-40 lead with 10:49 to go in the game. RMU scored the same number of points in the second half's first 10 minutes (25) as it did in the entire first half to take a 50-40 lead .
RMU placed four in double-figures, led by Martin's 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The Colonials, who shot 63% in the second half and 53.8% for the game, scored 36 points in the paint.
Monmouth returns to action on Monday evening when it visits Saint Francis University for a 7:00 pm tip in Loretto, Pennsylvania.
