Muncie, Ind. / Worthen Arena?The Robert Morris University women's basketball team fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2003-04 with a 94-82 loss to Illinois State at Ball State in its final game of the Preseason Women's National Tournament. Junior guard Monet Johnson (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Grand Street Campus (Monroe College)) finished with 37 points and eight three-pointers, both marks just one shy of RMU single-game records.

Johnson scored 34 of her 37 points in the second half, going 13-of-24 from the field and 8-of-12 from three points range. She added three points from the free throw line and had six rebounds.

Senior guard Kendra Williams (Bronx, N.Y. / Mount St. Ursula) tied her career-high ? which she set Friday night against Ball State ? with 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting. She added six rebounds and six assists. Senior guard Angela Pace (Westchester, N.Y. / Woodlands (Monroe College)) had a career best nine assists and five steals to go along with six points and a team-best seven rebounds. Junior Monica Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Woodland Hills (Howard College)) added 10 points.

Kristi Cirone led Illinois State with 35 points, hitting 12-of-15 shots, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. She also had eight assists. The Redbirds shot 58.1 percent for the game, draining 36-of-62 shots. Nicolle Lewis had 15 points while Shala Jackson had a double-double with 11 point and 11 rebounds. Maggie Krick had eight helpers to go with her 11 points.

Robert Morris grabbed its first lead of the season, 5-4, on a Johnson three-pointer 3:47 into the game. A pair of free throws by junior forward Latavia Vails (Odenton, Md. / Odenton (CC of Rhode Island)) stretched it 7-4 at 15:09.

For the next 10 minutes, however, it was all Illinois State. The Redbirds went on a 38-11 run, taking a 42-18 lead with 4:58 left in the first half. The Colonials showed signs of life at the end of the half, going on a 12-5 run over the final 4:44 to make a 47-30 game at the break.

Illinois State twice stretched the lead to 23 points in the second half and twice Robert Morris cut it down to 13 points. The Colonials would get no closer than 13, however, until Johnson's three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Colonials play their home opener on Saturday, November 29, when they host Howard University at 2:00 p.m.  in the opening game of the RMU Thanksgiving Tournament.