Dec. 28, 2009
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Santa Clara had a chance to win on their final possession but Robert Morris escaped with a 57-56 victory at the Charles L. Sewall Center Monday night.
Noe Viloria - who had made four 3s and finished with a team-high 14 points - missed a 3-point attempt with 8 seconds left which would have put Santa Clara in front.
Baskets by Lena Gipson and Alyssa Shoji inside the closing 40 seconds and a missed free throw by RMU had positioned the Broncos to come-away with a road win. Instead, it marks the sixth time in 13 games Santa Clara (2-11) has lost by eight points or less and third losing at the buzzer.
Robert Morris (6-5) improves to 64-13 on its home floor spanning the past six seasons. Senior guard Angela Pace had 10 points and seven assists for the Colonials who turned the ball over just eight times.
Gipson posted her eighth double-double, grabbing 15 rebounds and scoring 11 points. It was the third consecutive game Viloria reached double-figures in scoring and freshman classmate Meagan Fulps matched a season-high with seven rebounds.
Kathy Willinsky made 4-of-7 shots, adding 12 points for a Broncos team who will next face No. 21 West Virginia (11-1) Wednesday night.