The Robert Morris Colonials women's basketball team is the basketball team that represents Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Horizon League.
Robert Morris began its women's basketball program in 1970, and rattled off 11 straight winning seasons from 1978âÂÂ79 to 1988âÂÂ89. Under RMU Athletic Hall of Fame head coach Dan Swalga, the Colonials achieved their first 20-win season in 1981âÂÂ82 at 20âÂÂ8, won the Pennwood West tournament after a 23âÂÂ5 campaign in 1983âÂÂ84, and captured their first ECAC Metro (now Northeast Conference) Tournament championship in 1988. Swalga led RMU to a second NEC tournament title in 1991, but the program then fell into a 16-season championship drought.
After winning just seven games over a three-season span, the Colonials hired Sal Buscaglia from Manhattan to turn around the program. RMU went 3âÂÂ24 in Buscaglia's first season, but rebounded with a 20âÂÂ10 record in 2004âÂÂ05 - marking the third-largest single-season turnaround in NCAA history. Another 20-win season followed, then the Colonials won their third NEC tournament championship and advanced to the program's first NCAA tournament in 2006âÂÂ07. RMU added a second NCAA tournament berth the next season, and earned a Postseason WNIT berth in 2009âÂÂ10 after going 17âÂÂ1 in league play.
Following an injury-plagued 2012âÂÂ13 season, RMU reached the peak again in 2013âÂÂ14 with its fifth NEC tournament title and third NCAA tournament berth. Two years later, Buscaglia added another NEC tournament crown and NCAA tournament bid in his final season on the bench, before handing over the reins to his son, Charlie Buscaglia, prior to the 2016âÂÂ17 season.
Coach B, as he is respectfully called, has continued to raise the standard for the program. In his first season, the Colonials made it back-to-back NEC tournament championships and played in their fifth NCAA tournament, then followed that with a school-record 25 wins and Postseason WNIT berth in 2017âÂÂ18. In 2018âÂÂ19, RMU went 16âÂÂ2 in league play - including a 11âÂÂ0 start - winning their eighth NEC tournament and sixth NCAA tournament bid. This past season, the Colonials went 23-7 and started a program-best 14âÂÂ0 in the NEC, and became the first team since Saint Francis U from 2001 to 2005 to win at least a share of four consecutive NEC regular-season crowns. RMU moved onto the NEC Tournament semifinals and were recipients of the conference's NCAA tournament berth after the cancellation of the NEC Tournament due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
In the classroom, the Colonials ranked in the top five of NCAA Division I women's basketball in cumulative grade point average, finishing second in 2016âÂÂ17 and fourth in 2017âÂÂ18.
Overall, RMU has captured eight NEC Tournaments, eight NEC regular-season titles, and played in nine national postseason tournaments (6 NCAA, 2 WNIT, 1 WBI). The Colonials have won 20 or more games in 13 seasons.
The Colonials have appeared in the NCAA tournament six times. Their combined record is 0âÂÂ6.
The Colonials have appeared in two Women's National Invitation Tournaments (WNIT). Their record is 0âÂÂ2.
The Colonials have appeared in one Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI). Their record is 0âÂÂ1.
NEC Player of the Year: 6<br /> - Last: Anna Niki Stamolamprou, 2016âÂÂ17<br /> NEC Rookie of the Year: 2<br /> - Last: Ashley Ravelli, 2012âÂÂ13<br /> NEC Defensive Player of the Year: 2<br /> - Last: Nneka Ezeigbo, 2018âÂÂ19<br /> NEC Coach of the Year: 7<br /> - Last: Charlie Buscaglia, 2019âÂÂ20<br /> NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: 3<br /> - Last: Nneka Ezeigbo, 2019âÂÂ20<br /> NEC Tournament MVP: 8<br /> - Last: Nneka Ezeigbo, 2019<br /> All-NEC First Team: 22<br /> - Last: Nneka Ezeigbo, 2019âÂÂ20<br /> All-NEC Second Team: 21<br /> - Last: Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu, 2019âÂÂ20<br /> All-NEC Third Team: 2<br /> - Last: Isabella Posset, 2019âÂÂ20<br /> All-NEC Rookie Team: 16<br /> - Last: Isabella Posset, 2018âÂÂ19<br /> All-NEC Tournament Team: 24<br /> - Last: Nina Augustin & Nneka Ezeigbo, 2019