Preview: Women’s basketball hoping to sting the Hornets

Photo+credit%3A+Samuel+Anthony

Photo credit: Samuel Anthony

Tyler Gallo, Contributor

MOON TOWNSHIP — The Robert Morris women’s basketball team (2-7, 0-0 NEC) continues their six-game homestand on Tuesday when they take on the Delaware State Hornets (2-6, 0-0 Mid Eastern) at the North Athletic Complex. They look to continue their momentum following a win over Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday.

Recapping RMU:

The Colonials recently snapped a six-game losing skid when they hosted the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats (4-5, 1-2 PSAC) on Saturday and beat them 73-53. Freshman guard Isabella Posset led the way with a season-high 16 points and five field goals made. Senior guard Nia Adams also contributed 10 points in the win. The Colonials score, and allow, an average of 59 points per game this season.

Scouting Delaware State:

The Hornets come to town having lost two in a row. On Saturday, they traveled to Ithaca, New York to take on the Cornell Big Red, and were beaten pretty handily in the match, losing 94-59 after being dominated the whole game. However, senior forward NaJai Pollard scored 21 points in the loss. The Hornets have averaged 62 points a game this season, but have allowed an average of 79 points a game, including allowing 103 versus James Madison in November and the aforementioned 94 against Cornell.

Players to watch:

Isabella Posset (RMU): Following a strong game against Pitt-Johnstown, look for Posset to continue her strong freshman season. Second on the team in total points and scoring at an average of 7.7 per game, look for Posset to continue to impress on Tuesday. Posset is tied for first in assists as well with 23, and is also second in steals on the team with 14, behind our next RMU player to watch.

Nneka Ezeigbo (RMU): The junior center continues her strong campaign on Tuesday. She put up eight points on Saturday and went 4-4 in free throws against Pitt- Johnstown. Ezeigbo is the leader in total points for RMU, and continues to be a strong presence on the court with an average of 10.7 points per game, first on the team. She leads the Colonials in steals, with 18, and has also made 74 percent of her free throws this year.

NaJai Pollard (DSU): The senior forward is the most impressive name on the roster for the Hornets. She leads in most of the offensive categories for DSU, and put up 21 points in a game Delaware State scored only 59. She averages 22.1 points per game, and has also blocked more shots than the next four in the top five on the Hornets combined with 19. Pollard has also grabbed a total of 76 rebounds this season. Watch out for her in this matchup.

Lanayjha Ashe (DSU): While Pollard leads in most statistics, Lanayjha Ashe is a close second in most categories. Following a 12-point contest against Cornell, Pollard and Ashe are a 1-2 punch the Colonials need to watch out for. Ashe has played the most minutes on Delaware State, and leads the team in assists with 17, as well as free throw percentage, where she hits free throws 75 percent of the time.

Prediction:

Both teams have had similar seasons and this game will be very close. Both teams will trade leads back and forth, but the Colonials will ultimately pull away due to their deeper lineup. The final score for this matchup will be 65-56 in favor of the Colonials.