MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

Sunday, December 9, 2012 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern
Minneapolis, Minn. - Williams Arena
Audio: WLFP 1550 AM; www.rmucolonials.com
Adam Gusky, play-by-play
Video: www.gophersports.com/allaccess
Live Stats: www.gophersports.com

The Capsule

The Robert Morris University women's basketball team embarks on its second four-game road of the season beginning with a matinee against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Sunday, Dec. 9, in a 3:00 p.m. Eastern game at Williams Arena. This four-game swing wraps up the team's non-conference slate before league play begins shortly after the turn of the calendars.

The Series

Sunday's contest will mark the first meeting between Robert Morris and Minnesota. It is the fourth and final inaugural meeting for the Colonials this season. Colgate, Iowa and Michigan were all also first time opponents for the Colonials and all resulted in RMU setbacks.

Musket Shots

• Freshman Lou Mataly was named the NEC Rookie of the Week averaging 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists last week
• Senior point guard Jasmine Tate earned the Rising Star Award from the RMU President's Council
• Four players have led the team in scoring over the first seven games
• Junior Artemis Spanou's four double-doubles are just two behind the national leaders
• Senior forward Anna Gailite is tied for second all-time at RMU with 118 career blocks
• The Colonials had a season high 10 steals against Stony Brook
• Robert Morris has made it to the NEC Tournament semifinals in seven of the last eight seasons
• RMU is 92-24 (.793) at the Sewall Center since 2004-05, including 61-12 (.836) in NEC games

Tate Earns President's Council Rising Star Award

Senior point guard Jasmine Tate received the RMU President's Council Rising Star Award at a ceremony at Heinz Field on Dec. 4. The award is given to a graduating senior who demonstrates academic success, individuality, determination, passion and potential in his or her field of study. Tate is involved in nearly every area on campus. In addition to playing basketball, Tate is a songwriter, guitarist, vocalist, participates in various spiritual groups on campus, has a 3.8 GPA as a corporate communications manager and is active in spreading anti-bullying messages to schoolchildren.

Mataly Named NEC Rookie of the Week

Mataly was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week after averaging 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in a two game sample last week. Mataly nailed a trio of three pointers off the bench against Stony Brook. She earned her first career start against Duquesne, scoring 10 points, grabbing five boards and dishing out four assists in that contest.

Road Warriors

Robert Morris is in the midst of a four-game road swing and an extended portion of the Colonials schedule that will see the team play eight of 10 games away from the Charles L. Sewall Center between now and the turn of the calendars. During that span, RMU will travel 6,644 miles. The longest trip is the  858-mile journey to Minnesota while the shortest is 94 miles to Kent State.