In the moment, a 58-55 setback from the Robert Morris Women’s Basketball Team to Saint Francis Wednesday evening was hard to take, after all, the potentially game-tying shot rolled in and out, causing multiple players to hit the floor as the buzzer sounded.
The disappointment was evident, but it took nothing away from RMU and the clear aspirations and direction it is poised to take.
Sure, this was a result which would have been quite a positive one for RMU, especially against a rival with proximity, but the encouraging signs will help, especially with road contests against Pitt and Duquesne coming just over 48 hours apart.
This was a tricky game for RMU in that it expected some zone, but not for the entire 40 minutes. The Colonials did a good job identifying this, especially in the first half, having Isys Grady in the middle of the zone and providing a chance to have the offense flow, whether calling her own number, trying to build a post presence to extend the zone out, or achieve success from three-point range.
Unfortunately for RMU not enough was done and first-year coach Chandler McCabe admitted that the stats did not lie. Her Colonials shot 34.5% from the field and were 5-for-22 from three-point range. While shots did not fall in with the regularity she would have liked, the errors did not create short courts, a fact evidenced by six team turnovers.
The biggest challenge which may come from this game is one of confusion. McCabe expressed after the game that this week of practice was likely her team’s best of the season, but it did not translate on the court.
RMU will now be more prepared to face a zone, a lesson clearly learned from Wednesday.
It is clear from McCabe’s words that defense is what her team hangs its hat on and there were lessons to be learned there as well. Saint Francis shot 46.3% from the field and despite committing 20 turnovers, Airah Lavy made five three-point shots, including the game-winner and Juliana Gibson was the most consistent offensive post on either side.
Those lapses will be looked at and improved upon.
There is still some figuring out when it comes to determining a rotation, something which is practice based and between good practices and foul trouble, 13 Colonials saw the court. Some of this decision also was seeking someone who could make threes and extend the zone, but that proved unsuccessful.
One thing which is extremely evident is the love all 16 on the roster have for each other. That love has displayed both on the court in the sense of doing what is being asked of them and off the court as well. McCabe believes that will carry deeper into the season as RMU develops having a bend-don’t-break mentality.
There was clear ability showcased on the court; leading scorer Noa Givon made her presence felt after transferring in from Iona. Jada Lee is a local product from Carlynton and transferred in from Mount St. Mary’s. Her tenacity drew a critical and-one play. Dani Vuletich clearly excelled at finishing around the basket having multiple and-one plays. Had she stayed out of foul trouble, it is quite possible that RMU wins this game.
A lot of these and other pieces are still learning and trying to consistently find counters and make it work. There is a clear belief that it will happen, but in order to do so, it comes down to having a short-term memory, dealing with ebbs and flows as they come and sticking together to unite for a desired result.
“You mess up on the defensive end, then we’ve just got to go score or mess up on the offensive end, you’ve got to get a stop,” McCabe concluded. “One possession at a time, one game at a time, one day at a time. We tell our young ladies the most important game is the next one on the schedule. We won’t not learn from this game as well. I just went in there read the stats and told them to be prepared for some film.”
