DETROIT (11/18/21) - Sophomore Irene Murua scored a team-high 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting while grabbing a team-best seven rebounds. Sydney Searcy added nine points followed by Daija Moses with eight points and four rebounds as Detroit Mercy dropped the home and Horizon League opener to Robert Morris, 55-46, on Thursday night at Calihan Hall. 

Imani McNeal turned in a solid overall effort with six points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals while Brandi Washington chipped in with seven points, four rebounds and team-high three steals. Monique Pruitt also grabbed a team second-best five rebounds. Detroit Mercy (0-3, 0-1 HL) once again had a strong defensive effort grabbing 12 steals with 14 points off 26 Robert Morris (1-2, 1-0 HL) turnovers. However, the Titans had trouble scoring as the Colonials accounted for eight steals and 18 points off 24 turnovers. After starting 0-for-5 in the first half, Detroit Mercy went 8-for-10 from the free throw line in the second half.

After trailing 42-33 in the third quarter, Washington hit a driving lay-up to cap off a quick 4-0 run pulling the Titans within five points at 42-37 to open the fourth quarter. However, RMU responded with a 6-0 spurt to increase their lead back up to nine points, 48-37 with 5:35 left. Both teams exchanged runs as the Titans added another 5-0 clip but the Colonials answered again with a 5-0 spurt to go back up by nine at 53-42 and never looked back for the win.

In the second quarter, Murua and Moses added four points each to keep the TItans in at as RMU took a six point lead into the locker room, 24-18.

The Titans jumped out to a 6-5 lead by the first media time out but RMU went on a 7-0 run before a layup by Murua ended the run to pull the Titans within four points at 12-8 in the first quarter.

Detroit Mercy continues HL play at home against Youngstown State on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m.