MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — In a Horizon League clash defined by defensive grit and a decisive fourth-quarter stand, the Robert Morris Colonials secured a 62-52 victory over the Milwaukee Panthers in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday night at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

The Colonials, now 10-3 overall, used a balanced scoring attack and a lockdown final period to overcome a shaky second quarter and hand the Panthers their 11th loss against four wins. The game’s pivotal stretch came in the final ten minutes, where Robert Morris held Milwaukee to a mere six points, transforming a narrow three-point lead into a comfortable double-digit win.

Robert Morris established early control, closing the first quarter with an 18-11 advantage. Aislin Malcolm, the game’s leading scorer with 18 points, was instrumental from the start, hitting key jumpers and free throws. The Colonials’ interior presence, 6-foot-3 forward Myriam Traore of Lognes, France, added 14 points and provided a consistent rebounding threat.

However, the second quarter belonged to the Panthers. Milwaukee erupted for 21 points, spearheaded by guard Jada Williams, who finished with 11, and a surge from local product Grace Lomen of East Troy, Wisconsin, who hit two three-pointers in the frame. The Panthers’ run sent them into halftime with a surprising 32-33 lead, having successfully disrupted the Colonials’ offensive flow.

The third quarter was a tense, back-and-forth affair with both teams trading baskets. Robert Morris edged ahead by outscoring Milwaukee 13-14 in the period, setting the stage for the final act. Entering the fourth quarter with a slim 46-45 lead, the Colonials’ defense ascended to another level.

Robert Morris smothered Milwaukee’s shooters, forced eight Panther turnovers in the quarter, and allowed only two field goals. The Panthers’ offense stagnated, managing just a single three-pointer from Rita Gomes and three free throws over the final ten minutes. Meanwhile, the Colonials methodically built their lead. Malcolm hit a crucial three-pointer early in the quarter, and contributions from role players like Bailey Kuhns, who chipped in 10 points off the bench, and Jada Lee, who had 11 points and three assists, helped seal the game.

The Colonials’ defensive effort was comprehensive. They recorded five steals and two blocks in the fourth quarter alone, with Traore and Malcolm controlling the defensive glass. Milwaukee’s leading scorer, Jorey Buwalda of Randolph, Wisconsin, was held to 10 points, and the Panthers shot a frigid percentage from the floor as a team in the final period.

The most important part of the game was unequivocally Robert Morris’s fourth-quarter defensive performance. After surrendering the lead in a high-scoring second quarter and engaging in a tight third, the Colonials imposed their will when it mattered most. Their ability to completely shut down Milwaukee’s offense, limiting them to six points on 2-of-13 shooting from the field while forcing critical turnovers, turned a nail-biter into a statement road victory. This defensive stand, more than any individual scoring run, was the definitive factor in the outcome.

The announced attendance was 691. Robert Morris, which entered as a 65.6 percent favorite according to Interstat’s ELO system, will continue its road trip at Green Bay on Sunday. Milwaukee looks to rebound at home against Cleveland State, also on Sunday.