Moon Township, Pa. — Robert Morris shot at least 50% in the final three quarters and made 10 3-pointers to beat Youngstown State's women's basketball team 76-53 on Wednesday evening at the UPMC Events Center.
Youngstown State led 7-2 less than three minutes into the game, and it trailed just 15-12 after the first quarter. Katelyn Chomko hit three 3-pointers for the Colonials during a 13-0 run to start the second quarter, and the margin was double digits the rest of the night.
The Penguins are now 11-18 overall and 6-13 in Horizon League play, and the Colonials improved to 13-15 and 9-10. RMU has won eight of its last 11 games.
Jewel Watkins scored 18 points to lead the Penguins, and she drew nine fouls in the game. Sophia Gregory scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds despite being whistled for three fouls in the first half, and Abby Liber finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Noa Givon had 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals for Robert Morris, which saluted its nine seniors after the game. Chomko finished with 15 points on five 3-pointers, and RMU had four players total reach double figures.
Haley Thierry and Gregory scored on YSU's first two possessions, and Xoe Rosalez's 3-pointer at the 7:10 mark gave the Penguins a 7-2 lead. RMU scored 13 of the next 15 points to go up 15-9, and a Watkins 3-pointer with 1:20 on the clock closed the gap to 15-12.
The margin remained three for nearly three minutes before the Colonials went on their run. RMU scored on five straight possessions, and Chomko's third 3-pointer followed two offensive rebounds and put the Colonials ahead 28-12. Chomko added another 3 to finish 4-for-4 from long distance in the quarter, and RMU led 35-19 at the break.
Gregory's three-point play with 7:39 left in the third made the score 41-27, and that's as close as YSU got in the second half.
Watkins scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half, and Gregory had 11 of her 13 in the final 20 minutes.
Youngstown State will finish the regular season on Saturday by hosting Cleveland State at 2 p.m. It will be senior day for the program as Malia Magestro, Thierry and Watkins will be celebrated before the game.
