Issue date: 2/26/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: RMU Athletics

It certainly has been a remarkable season for the RMU women's basketball team. First, they helped their coach, Sal Buscaglia, secure his 600th career coaching victory. Then, just this past weekend, they not only reached the 20-win mark for the fifth time in the last six years, but they also wrapped up their third NEC regular season championship in the past four seasons.

And they're not done yet.

The Colonials clinched the top seed in the NEC Tournament and their first ever outright Northeast Conference championship with wins against Sacred Heart on Feb. 18 and Quinnipiac on Feb. 20.They now sit at 15-1 in the NEC, and 20-7 overall, with two games remaining in the regular season.

A far cry from their 13-18 record from a year ago, and their projected fourth place finish in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll.
Having added seven new players to their squad at the start of the season, no one really expected the team to come together as fantastically as they have. It seemed unlikely for a team with such inexperience playing together to have the sheer dominance over a conference that they have enjoyed.

Their only loss in conference play, a one point loss to the Monmouth Hawks, came Jan. 16. When the two teams met again a week later, the Colonials won by 17. They have won all but three of their games by 10 points or more.

Much like their male counterparts, the Lady Colonials have used their speed and stellar defense to their advantage, having a knack for making teams in the conference look like they don't even belong on the same court with them.

One of those teams is Sacred Heart, who ventured to the Sewell Center last week with hopes on an upset. The Colonials, though, were up to the task, toppling the Pioneers by 28 points, 71-43.

The Colonials' solid defense held the Pioneers to 22.1 percent shooting and forced 23 turnovers. Robert Morris on the other hand, shot 44.4 percent. The Colonials outscored Sacred Heart 46-16 in the paint, and 16-4 on fast-break points. The Colonials also out-rebounded the Pioneers 48-46.

Senior Monica Jones earned her second career double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. She also added three steals and two assists to her night's work. Sophomore Mary Durojaye also recorded a double-double, recording 13 points and 10 boards.

Senior Angela Pace led all scorers with 16 points, as well as recording seven rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Junior Kristine Silaraja contributed 11 points to the win.

Continued...

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