The Robert Morris women’s basketball team will open the doors at the UPMC Events Center on Friday for the first time this season when the Colonials welcome Akron to town.
Coming off a big win in their season opener on the road at UIC, the Colonials will have new faces but the same high expectations to meet. Here is a listing of the five things you should know ahead of the highly anticipated home tip-off.
Defense, Defense, Defense
While many would reflect fondly on the team’s season last year, the Colonials’ top four finish in conference was way more unexpected than you may think. The team was picked to finish second-to-last in the preseason poll and finished third-to-last in scoring, meaning the defense stepped up big in Coach McCabe’s first season.
RMU allowed the fewest opposition points out of the entire Horizon League last season. With height and strength provided by players like Mya Murray, Danielle Vuletich, and Naomi Barnwell, the Colonials averaged 35.9 rebounds, which was second in the Horizon League—25.2 of those came off the Colonial hoop.
In their first game against UIC, RMU grabbed 38 rebounds compared to the Flames’ 27. Of the 38, 30 were on their defensive end.
The intense work rate instilled by McCabe and her staff, along with new physical forces like sophomores Ava Leroux and Myriam Traore, and freshman Dania McClain, means that the Colonials will look to be another force to reckon with on their side of the court.
New Faces, Same Playmakers
While the Colonials will be taking home court with a whole new host of characters, we can expect two familiar and important playmakers to find their way onto the box score this season.
Noa Givon and Jada Lee are back for RMU, with the duo being two of the three returners on the Colonials’ roster from last year. Givon was RMU’s highest scorer a year ago, averaging 10.4 points per game and shooting 40.1% from the field and 30% from three.
Givon picked up right where she left off last season, putting up 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one steal, all while shooting 50% from three against the Flames. Lee did not make the same splash but scored three points of her own, collected eight rebounds, and led the team in assists with six.
A key part of the system, Lee also led the team in assists last season, putting up 71 over the course of 26 games.
“The Future and the Now”
A motto Coach McCabe has reiterated in her preseason press conferences has been “We have the Future and the Now.” She explained that while the current roster contains a lot of skill and talent, it also boasts young players that can help this team sustain success for years to come.
Of the 11 new players on the Colonials’ roster, five are freshmen. And while many programs might take a while to integrate them, McCabe proved in the team’s first game that some wouldn’t have to wait long.
All five freshmen got game time on Monday, two of whom got five or more minutes. Freshman center Layke Fields made quite the splash in her six minutes on the court, scoring a layup then tracking all the way back and collecting a block in transition. The PA native also grabbed two rebounds.
The work rate displayed early on, mixed with McCabe’s high praise, shows that the coach may be right in saying that “the future of this program is in safe hands.”
Threats From All Areas
Transfers will no doubt be a storyline throughout the early weeks of the season. As such, with the current nature of college athletics, teams need to look for new scorers and playmakers almost every season, and that’s certainly true for RMU.
An area they’ll no doubt need to make up in is scoring from the perimeter. The Colonials ranked dead last in the Horizon League in three-pointers attempted, made, and percentage, shooting 27.9% from the arc.
The team will look no further than Pitt transfer Aislin Malcom to shore up that area, with the senior shooting 38.5% last season and 41% the season prior.
The senior exploded in her debut, leading the Colonials with 26 points. Malcom shot 50% from the field and 40% from three, becoming the threat from the perimeter RMU has so desperately needed.
Another new addition, Bailey Kuhns, also proved to be a key figure on the court. The senior from Mercyhurst has a career shooting percentage of 49.5% from the field and is credited as being the most hardworking player McCabe has coached, even in such a short amount of time.
Kuhns shot 6-for-8 from the field and scored 13 points, making a statement that RMU will have the offense to back up their defensive work.
Competitiveness From Start to Finish
“Moon Ball” is a term McCabe has thrown around a lot in her year on campus. While last season exceeded expectations, McCabe and her team realize a lot more work needs to be done in order to get back to Indianapolis.
Last season produced a 15-16 overall record with an even 10-10 finish in the Horizon League, which was good for a fourth-place finish, but they entered conference play with a 2-5 record. While history was made last year, this is a new group with new ambitions and expectations that are the same: to win a championship.
When you hear “Moon Ball,” it means high energy, smart defense, aggression, and bringing your all—all the time. The Colonials will want to be playing like this year-round, and that means starting quick and attacking from the get-go. After Akron, RMU will take on local foes Saint Francis, Duquesne, Pitt, and Mercyhurst, with a game against Eastern Michigan scheduled, too.
The big win against UIC showed the Colonials have the skill to score big and limit chances on defense, and if the team can stack wins against some of the local powerhouses, then we might be in for another special year of basketball in “Hoop Township.”
RMU welcomes Akron to the UPMC Events Center on Friday, Nov 6. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
