COROPOLIS, Pa. (Interstat) — Aislin Malcolm scored 20 points to lead Robert Morris to a 74-64 victory over Fort Wayne in a Horizon League women’s basketball game Thursday at Charles L. Sewall Center. The Colonials (11-4) used a 21-point first quarter to build an early lead and never trailed, despite a third-quarter push from the Mastodons (11-6). Fort Wayne closed to within four points late in the third, but Robert Morris secured the win with a 22-point fourth quarter. Myriam Traore added 17 points for Robert Morris. Rylee Bess led Fort Wayne with 14 points. The Colonials capitalized on turnovers, scoring 19 points off 16 Fort Wayne miscues, and shot 50% from the field, including 9 of 18 from three-point range.

COROPOLIS, Pa. (Interstat) — In a pivotal Horizon League clash on Thursday night, the Robert Morris Colonials leveraged a dominant opening quarter and a decisive advantage in points off turnovers to secure a 74-64 victory over the Fort Wayne Mastodons at the Charles L. Sewall Center. The game’s most critical phase unfolded from the opening tip. Robert Morris, playing with precision and defensive intensity, raced to a 21-10 lead after the first quarter. The Colonials’ star guard, Aislin Malcolm of nearby Carnegie, Pennsylvania, set the tone early, scoring eight of her game-high 20 points in the period, including a pair of three-pointers. The Colonial defense was equally impactful, forcing six Fort Wayne turnovers in the first ten minutes and converting them into easy scoring opportunities. This early cushion proved insurmountable for the Mastodons, who spent the remainder of the game fighting uphill. Fort Wayne, which entered the contest with a 68.5% win probability according to National Statistical’s ELO system, showed resilience. The Mastodons chipped away at the deficit, winning the second quarter 16-13 and the third quarter 20-18. A key spark came from reserve guard Rylee Bess, who scored all 14 of her points in the first half, including three three-pointers, to keep her team within striking distance. In the third quarter, a 9-0 Fort Wayne run, capped by a three-pointer from Avery Wagner, trimmed the Colonial lead to just four points. However, every Mastodon push was met with a Colonial response. The backcourt duo of Malcolm and Myriam Traore, who added 17 points, consistently made plays to halt Fort Wayne’s momentum. Following Fort Wayne’s third-quarter run, Robert Morris answered with a 7-0 spurt of its own to re-establish a double-digit advantage. The Mastodons never got closer than eight points in the final quarter as Robert Morris executed efficiently down the stretch, making 11 of 12 free throws for the game. The statistical story centered on ball security and efficiency. Robert Morris committed 11 turnovers, which Fort Wayne converted into just seven points. Conversely, the Colonials capitalized on 16 Mastodon giveaways, generating 19 points off those mistakes. That 12-point disparity was the ultimate difference on the scoreboard. Robert Morris also shot a crisp 50% from the field (27 of 54) and from three-point range (9 of 18), while Fort Wayne finished at 45.1% overall (23 of 51). Defensively, Robert Morris’s activity, led by five steals from Jada Lee and Eva Levingston, disrupted Fort Wayne’s offensive flow, holding the Mastodons to a season-low three assists. Fort Wayne’s interior defense was a bright spot, recording four blocks, with Wagner accounting for all four in just 15 minutes of action. With the win, Robert Morris improves to 11-4 overall and evens its Horizon League record after a loss to Green Bay last Sunday. Fort Wayne, which had won four of its last five, falls to 11-6. The teams are scheduled for a rematch in Fort Wayne on Tuesday, January 27. The Colonials next host Northern Kentucky on Saturday, while the Mastodons travel to face Youngstown State the same day.

Preview: Fort Wayne Mastodons at Robert Morris Colonials CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (Interstat) — Two of the Horizon League’s top teams will clash Thursday when the Fort Wayne Mastodons visit the Robert Morris Colonials in a key early conference women’s basketball matchup. The Mastodons (11-5 overall) enter on a two-game winning streak, including a dominant 71-46 victory over IU Indy on Monday. Fort Wayne has won seven of its last eight games, with its only loss in that span a narrow 88-85 overtime defeat to Northern Kentucky. A player to watch for Fort Wayne is guard Lili Krasovec, who has provided consistent scoring and defensive energy. She is averaging 12.8 points over her last five games, including a 19-point performance against Northern Kentucky and 15 points in a road win at Oakland. The Colonials (10-4), however, are tough at home, boasting a 6-1 record at the Charles L. Sewall Center this season. They look to rebound from a 64-43 road loss at Green Bay last Sunday. Prior to that, Robert Morris had won five of its previous six contests. Robert Morris will rely on guard Noa Givon, who led the team with 13 points in the loss to Green Bay. She has reached double figures in scoring in three of her last six outings. The matchup features contrasting strengths. Fort Wayne has showcased a high-powered offense, scoring 84 points or more in three of its last five games. Robert Morris has leaned on its defense, holding opponents to 52 points or fewer in four of its 10 wins this season. This game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs. They will meet again in Fort Wayne on Jan. 27. Thursday’s winner will gain an early advantage in the Horizon League standings as both teams pursue a conference title. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at the Charles L. Sewall Center.