Robert Morris women defeat Northern Kentucky, advance to Horizon League semis Monday

During the women’s basketball regular season, Northern Kentucky gave Robert Morris fits. On Thursday in the Horizon League Tournament quarterfinals, the Colonials returned the favor.

Noa Givon scored a season-high 23 points, and No. 4 seed Robert Morris defeated No. 5 Northern Kentucky, 70-57, at UPMC Events Center to advance to the semifinals Monday at Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis.

“We’ve got some unfinished business to take care of because we’re not satisfied,” first-year Robert Morris coach Chandler McCabe said.

The Colonials will face a stern test in the semifinals against top-seeded Green Bay at noon Monday. Green Bay defeated No. 10 Oakland, 84-55, on Thursday. In the other quarterfinals, No. 2 Purdue Fort Wayne beat No. 8 Wright State, 64-50; and No. 3 Cleveland State routed No. 6 Detroit Mercy, 92-61.

“It doesn’t matter who we’ll be playing. We’re still going to play RMU basketball,” McCabe said.

Robert Morris, which led 35-29 at halftime, pulled away in the second half to end with a convincing outcome.

In the first regular-season meeting between teams, Northern Kentucky posted an almost identical score in beating Robert Morris, 72-58, on Jan. 8. The Colonials came back on Feb. 16 to score a close 63-59 victory.

In the latest game, Givons, a 5-foot-10 junior from Ra’anana, Israel, and a transfer from Iona, converted 10 of 18 field goals for Robert Morris (15-15), which shot 45.3%.

Mya Murray, a Uniontown product and a transfer from Brown, added 11 points for the Colonials, projected to finish last in the 11-team Horizon League.

But they’re arguably the conference’s biggest surprise under McCabe, a former associate head coach at George Mason, who took over a Robert Morris program coming off a 6-24 (2-18 Horizon) season.

The Colonials this season have fought back to a .500 record after starting the year 1-7.

McCabe said the fortunes began to turn for Robert Morris when the players decided to “buy in.”

Halle Idowu led Northern Kentucky (11-21) with 15 points. Macey Blevins added 12, and Abby Wolterman finished with 10 for the Norse.