ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies gear up for their final matchup of the calendar year as they head to Robert Morris to take on the Colonials, closing out a four-game road stretch.
With nothing but conference showdowns ahead for Oakland, the Golden Grizzlies look to find a rhythm and snap a five-game losing streak.
Oakland returns to action after a week long break, last playing at Michigan on Dec. 21 in Ann Arbor. In that contest, Oakland showed flashes against the No. 6 team in the nation, creating a large momentum swing in the third quarter while also shooting 11-for-13 from the free-throw line. It marked the fifth time in the last six games the Golden Grizzlies have attempted and made double-digit free throws.
Sophomore guard
Angie Smith has been lighting it up for Oakland over the last three games, scoring in double figures in each, including a career-high 18 points against Illinois State. She has also made an impact defensively, totaling four blocks during that span.
Layla Gold has also served as a defensive anchor for the Golden Grizzlies, recording six blocks and three steals over the last three games and ranking third in the conference in blocks per game (1.3).
Oakland's next matchup comes against the conference-leading Colonials, who sit atop the Horizon League standings with a 9-2 overall record and a 2-0 mark in league play. Robert Morris enters the contest riding a five-game winning streak after a 79-29 win over Point Park on Dec. 19.
The Colonials boast the second-best defense in the conference, allowing just 57.1 points per game, holding opponents to .350 shooting from the field, and owning the second-highest average margin of victory at 9.7 points.
Where the Colonials have struggled is from beyond the three-point line, shooting a league-low .234 from deep and making just four 3-pointers per game (44 total) this season. Oakland is among the league's top 3-point shooting teams, connecting at a .300 clip and averaging 6.2 made 3-pointers per game. The imminent return of
Cali Denson, who missed the previous two games, would further widen that gap from beyond the arc for the Golden Grizzlies.
Despite a defense-first approach, Robert Morris features offensive firepower, led by senior guard Aislin Malcom. Her 12.3 points per game pace the team and rank ninth in the conference.
Monday's contest will close out the 2025 calendar year, tipping off at 4 p.m. on Dec. 29 at the UPMC Events Center in Moon Township, Pa., and will be streamed on ESPN+.
