ELMHURST, Ill. - Despite being outshot and outrebounded, the Elmhurst College women's basketball team found a way to edge Robert Morris University-Springfield 59-57. 

Robert Morris (9-5) led for over 31 minutes but the Bluejays kept the game close, never allowing the Eagles to build more than a seven-point advantage.

Clutch offensive rebounding sparked the Bluejays' rally late. Trailing 53-50 with less than three minutes to play, Kelsey Monroe collected an offensive board and hit a lay-up to slice the Eagles' lead to just one point.

After a miss by Robert Morris, Meghan Merklein gave the Bluejays their first lead of the second half when she knocked down a lay-up and was fouled in the process. Merklein converted the three-point play to give Elmhurst a 55-53 lead with 1:50 left on the clock.

The Bluejays' lead was short lived as Jasmine Mack drained a 3-pointer to put Robert Morris on top 56-55 with 1:30 left in the contest.

On Elmhurst's next possession, Kelsey Monroe missed a 3-pointer, but Merklein collected the rebound in the paint and was fouled while hitting a put-back jumper. Merklein hit the free throw to put Elmhurst up 58-56 with 39 seconds left on the clock. 

Robert Morris cut the lead in half on a free throw by Mack. After Elmhurst missed a free throw, Robert Morris grabbed the rebound and had a chance to take the lead, by Mack's lay-up fell short with 12 seconds left on the clock. Monroe split a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to seal the win for the Bluejays.

Elmhurst shot just 30.3 percent from the field (20-of-66), including 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from downtown. Robert Morris shot 34.3 percent (23-of-67) from the floor and 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from beyond the arc. The Eagles struggled from the foul line, hitting just 7-of-17 (41.2 percent) of their attempts.  

Robert Morris thoroughly dominated on the glass, outrebounding Elmhurst 58-42. The Eagles pulled down a whopping 22 offensive rebounds, resulting in 20 second-chance points.

Turnovers proved to be a huge factor in the game. Robert Morris committed 23 turnovers leading to 24 points for the Bluejays.

Lyndsie Long led Elmhurst in the win with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Merklein finished with 15 points and seven boards while Maggie McTeague came off the bench to score seven.

Mack and Tiara Perry totaled 16 points apiece to pace Robert Morris. Latoya Gipson added 12 points while Tanesha Parker pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds.

Elmhurst (5-4) travels to Rockford College on Saturday, December 19.