FAIRBORN, Ohio (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter performance and a career-high scoring effort from Myriam Traore propelled the Robert Morris Colonials to a decisive 74-53 victory over the Wright State Raiders in a Horizon League women’s basketball game Saturday at the Ervin J. Nutter Center.

The Colonials, improving to 14-6 overall, seized control of the contest with a stifling defensive display in the second period. After a tightly contested first quarter that ended with Robert Morris leading 18-17, the visitors held Wright State to just five points in the second quarter. The Raiders managed only two field goals in the frame, shooting a dismal 2 of 13 from the floor while committing six turnovers.

That defensive lockdown allowed Robert Morris to build a commanding 37-22 halftime advantage. The Colonials’ offense, while not spectacular, was steady and efficient, scoring 19 points in the quarter. The 15-point halftime lead proved insurmountable for a struggling Wright State squad that fell to 6-15.

The most important stretch of the game was undoubtedly that second-quarter surge. Robert Morris transformed a one-point lead into a 15-point cushion by outscoring Wright State 19-5. The Raiders went scoreless for over six minutes during the period, a drought that encapsulated their offensive struggles throughout the afternoon. Wright State never got closer than 13 points in the second half, as Robert Morris maintained its composure and answered every minor Raider push.

Myriam Traore, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Lognes, France, was the offensive catalyst for the Colonials. She poured in a game-high 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including four 3-pointers, and added five rebounds in 32 minutes. Her scoring from the perimeter stretched the Wright State defense and created space inside.

She was complemented by an efficient performance from reserve forward Ava Leroux. The 6-foot-4 Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, native scored 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds in just 20 minutes of action. Leroux’s production continued a strong stretch of play, marking her third game scoring in double figures in her last four outings.

Guard Jada Lee of Pittsburgh orchestrated the Robert Morris offense, dishing out seven assists to go with six points and four rebounds. Eva Levingston added 12 points and six rebounds for the Colonials, who shot 48.1% from the field compared to Wright State’s 35.1%.

Wright State was led by Lauren Scott’s 15 points, though she needed 15 shots to reach that total. Breezie Williams finished with 10 points and six assists, while Grace Okih contributed nine points and six rebounds. The Raiders’ offense was hampered by 16 turnovers and a significant deficit in paint scoring, where Robert Morris held a 38-18 advantage.

Interstat’s ELO system had given Robert Morris a 74.10 percent probability to win entering the contest, and the Colonials executed accordingly. They were more efficient, shooting an offensive rating of 101.5 points per 100 possessions compared to Wright State’s 75.9, and capitalized on their size and defensive pressure.

The game was played before a crowd of 3,730. Robert Morris looks ahead to a road game at Fort Wayne on Tuesday. Wright State travels to face Green Bay next Thursday.