MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Howard women's basketball team tried to claw its way back but fell short to Robert Morris, 59-42, on Sunday afternoon at the Charles L. Sewall Center.

The Bison (1-6) overcame a 20-point deficit to head into the fourth quarter down 42-34 to the Colonials (4-5). Unfortunately, HU couldn't get back into the game after it made only four field goals in the final ten minutes.

Freshman Imani Bryant led the Bison on offense and defense with 11 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, making it back-to-back games with a double-double for the rookie. She made 5-of-9 field goals to shoot 55.6 percent. 

Redshirt senior Te'Shya Heslip added 10 points for her seventh straight game in double digits. She also had a team-high five steals and three assists. Redshirt junior Erin Blaine tallied eight points and six boards, while senior Sydni Johnson posted seven points. 

The Bison shot a season-low 23.9 perfect from the floor, only making 17 of its 71 attempts. However, they shot a 61.5 percent clip (8-13) at the free throw line. HU also came up with 14 second chance points and outrebounded RMU by a 51-42 margin.

Howard had a difficult time finding its offensive spark to start the game as the Colonials ended the first quarter with a 26-7 lead. By halftime, the Bison were down 37-21 but Bryant was flirting with a double-double on nine points and 10 rebounds.

It seemed that HU started to find its footing in the third after opening the quarter on an 8-0 run over 4:21 to pull within eight. The Bison held RMU to just five points but their offense stalled in the final ten minutes as the Colonials outscored Howard, 17-8, in the fourth quarter.

RMU had three players in double figures, paced by A Niki Stamolamprou with 19 points, four assists and two steals. Megan Smith had a double-double on 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Howard will play its season opener on Saturday, Dec. 10 when it hosts Mount St. Mary's (Md.) in Burr Gym at 2 p.m.