Box Score WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Seniors Sarah Olson (Freehold, NJ/Howell [NJIT]) and Jamiyah Bethune (Union, NJ/Union [Penn State]) scored 11 points apiece, but Robert Morris held off the Monmouth University women's basketball team, 60-47, Thursday night in the Hawks' home opener. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 0-2, while the Colonials improve to 2-1.

McKinzee Barker (Bomont, WV/Clay County) added six points and a team-high nine rebounds for the Hawks, while Jasmine Walker (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) chipped in with nine points. Dana Carbone (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) hit a pair of three-pointers for six points.

Ashley Ravelli led all scorers with 16 points for Robert Morris, while Anna Niki Stamolamprou added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Rebeca Navarro also finished in double figures with 10 points.

“I think the story of this game really was more on the offensive end than anything,” said Monmouth Head Coach Jenny Palmateer. “We didn't shoot a very good percentage with two-point field goals, three-point field goals or even the foul line. They're not the kind of percentages that we know we need to be able to do well. We also turned the ball over a little too much, especially in a game when we're struggling to score. Every one of those possessions matters.”

What was a one-point game late in the first quarter quickly turned into a double-digit Robert Morris advantage. The Colonials used a 15-2 spurt from the final minute of the initial stanza to the 6:21 mark of the second to open up a 27-13 lead. Robert Morris closed the first quarter with six-straight points, including a four-point play from Ravelli, and went on to score nine of the first 11 to open the second quarter. Tyese Purvis (Queens, NY/Francis Lewis [Monroe C.C.]) broke up the run with a putback at the 3:07 mark. The Hawks whittled the deficit down to eight on Bethune's bucket in the lane with 1:13 left before the Colonials took a 29-20 lead into the halftime break.

Stamolamprou and Leah Wormack led all scorers with six points apiece, with Stamolamprou also grabbing eight rebounds after 20 minutes. Bethune led Monmouth with five points, while Barker added four points and four rebounds.

The Hawks closed to within one, 31-30, with consecutive Bethune buckets, the last at the 5:29 mark of the third quarter. But Robert Morris went on a 19-4 run to retake a 50-34 lead. Barker connected on a putback to end the quarter, making it 50-36 after three.

Olson hit a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter scoring, but the 11-point deficit, 50-39, was the closest the Hawks would get the rest of the way. The Robert Morris lead swelled to as many as 19, 60-41, on Navarro's drive and pull-up jumper at the 4:53 mark as the Colonials closed out the victory.

For the game, Robert Morris outshot the Hawks, 39.3 percent (24-61) to 32.2 percent (19-59) from the floor, 31.6 percent (6-19) to 17.4 percent (4-23) from long range and 66.7 percent (6-9) to 62.5 percent (5-8) from the free-throw line. The Colonials also took a 43-34 edge on the boards and a 17-8 advantage in bench scoring.

The Hawks return to action Sunday, when they travel to Colgate. Tip-off from Cotterell Court in Hamilton, NY, is scheduled for 2 p.m.

“We have a lot to work on on the offensive end, but we'll be ready,” said Palmateer. “We've got a couple of days, quick turnaround before Colgate and we'll be doing our best to be ready for them.”