LORETTO, Pa. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by gritty play and missed outside shots, the Robert Morris Colonials remained undefeated with a 71-61 victory over the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at DeGol Arena.

The Colonials improved to 3-0 on the young season, while the Red Flash fell to 0-3.

Robert Morris seized control of the contest with a dominant first half, building a 43-26 lead by intermission. The Colonials exploded for 24 points in the opening quarter, establishing an early cushion that the Red Flash could not overcome. Saint Francis (PA) mounted a challenge after halftime, outscoring Robert Morris 18-11 in the third quarter to trim the deficit, but the Colonials steadied themselves in the final period to secure the double-digit win.

Efficiency on offense proved to be the deciding factor. Despite a frigid shooting performance from beyond the arc, making just 2 of 21 attempts, Robert Morris leveraged its advantages elsewhere. The Colonials scored 71 points on 69 possessions, an offensive rating of 102.6, while the Red Flash managed only 61 points on 68 possessions, an offensive rating of 90.2. Robert Morris compensated for its three-point woes by shooting 45.3 percent from the floor overall and a stellar 84.6 percent from the free-throw line.

The Colonials also won the battle of ball movement and defensive pressure, dishing out seven assists to the Red Flash’s three and recording seven steals compared to three for the home team. Robert Morris committed 10 turnovers while forcing Saint Francis (PA) into 13.

Eva Levingston, a 6-foot sophomore from Oakland, California, led the Colonials with a game-high 18 points, adding eight rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes of action. Her presence in the paint was pivotal on both ends of the floor.

She was complemented by a strong interior performance from Myriam Traore. The 6-foot-3 freshman from Lognes, France, scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds, providing a crucial scoring punch off the bench. Bailey Kuhns, a 5-11 freshman from Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, added 10 points and six rebounds, while Aislin Malcolm, a 5-11 freshman from Carnegie, Pennsylvania, chipped in 11 points.

For Saint Francis (PA), the offense ran through Aleah James. The junior guard from Brooklyn, New York, poured in 20 points, collected five rebounds, and handed out four assists in a team-high 37 minutes. Shelby Ricks, a freshman from Lakeland, Florida, was also a key contributor with 14 points and six rebounds. Sonia Sato, a freshman from Okayama, Japan, finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

The Red Flash found more success from long range, connecting on 6 of 14 three-point attempts, but were hampered by poor free-throw shooting, making only 7 of 14 from the line. Robert Morris’s ability to generate higher-percentage shots inside and capitalize at the charity stripe ultimately made the difference.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 436. Robert Morris will look to continue its winning streak when it hosts Duquesne on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Saint Francis (PA) will seek its first win of the season at home against Lafayette on Sunday, Nov. 16.