Cincinnati, Ohio / Cintas Center?Xavier University, ranked #22 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll, handed the Robert Morris University women's basketball team a 79-49 loss in the opening round of the Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament at Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The loss snaps the Colonials 14-game regular season win streak and eight-game road winning streak, both of which dated back to the 2008-09 season.
“We played very hard for the first 20 minutes and we were right in the game. If it wasn't for missed free throws and them making a prayer at the end of the half, the game would have been even,” said RMU head coach Sal Buscaglia. “Playing the #22 team in the nation ? on their home court, especially ? you have to play hard for 40 minutes. The combination of not playing hard and having no answer for their inside game, along with poor free-throw and overall shooting, hurt us. We have to learn to play without Sade Logan on the offensive end.”
Junior Monet Johnson (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Grand Street Campus (Monroe College)) led the Colonials with 19 points, narrowly missing out on a double-double as she grabbed nine rebounds. She was 6-23 from the field while Robert Morris shot just 27.6 percent (16-58) from the field.
Ta'Shia Phillips scored a game-high 25 points, leading three Xavier scorers in double-digits. She was 11-of-15 from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds to record a double-double. Tyeasha Moss added 14 points and had four three-pointers and Special Jennings tallied 12 points, going 4-for-4 from long range.
Ta'Shia Phillips controlled the first half scoring 18 points as the Musketeers surged to a 38-20 lead at the break. She scored 10 points early, giving Xavier a 13-5 lead with 15:24 left in the first half.
The Colonials clawed their way back into the contest, as Johnson and Monica Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Woodland Hills (Howard College)) combined for 20 points. Jones scored six early points while Johnson finished with all 11 of her points for the game in the first 20 minutes.
Robert Morris went five minutes without a basket and saw the Musketeers go out to a 26-19 lead with 5:14 left before break. The Colonials scored 10 of the next 14 points with Johnson scoring seven of those to cut the lead to 30-28 with 1:55 left. A three-pointer by Jerri Taylor cut the Colonials momentum and started an 8-0 run that ended with Jennings banking in a 35-foot heave at the buzzer.
Ta'Shia Phillips scored the first five points of the second half to give Xavier a 15-point lead 2:39 into the new half. Xavier broke the game open with just under 12 minutes left. Four three-pointers, three by Tyeasha Moss, gave the Musketeers the lead 65-41.
Junior Latavia Vails (Odenton, Md. / Odenton (C.C. of Rhode Island)) scored eight points and had six rebounds in 14 minutes. Junior Grace Williams (Baxley, Ga. / Appling County (Frank Phillips)) led the team with 10 rebounds.
The Musketeers shot 46.2 percent (30-65) from the field and were 12-of-27 (44.4 percent) from beyond the arc. They held a 50-41 advantage in rebounds. RMU was just 12-of-25 from the charity stripe and Xavier was 7-of-17.
The Colonials will have to wait to find out when and where they play their next game. They are guaranteed three games as part of the WNIT.
