Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks

WINONA LAKE, Ind. (March 18, 2014) – The Women's Basketball team is set to take on Oklahoma Christian University in the opening round of the NCCAA National Championships, which is held on the campus of Grace College.

Roberts Wesleyan is seeded fifth in the eight-team tournament while Oklahoma Christian is the four-seed. Both teams are in the transition for the NAIA to the NCAA Division II. The Redhawks are nearing the end of their provisional year while the Eagles are in their second year of candidacy.

The game marks the first meeting between the two programs.

SCOUTING ROBERTS WESLEYAN (14-12/10-10 ECC)
The Redhawks are looking to buck the recent trend of early exits in the tournament as they have fallen in the opening round the last three trips to the competitive tournament.
 
On offense, senior forward Chelsea Sanders has been a force as she leads the team in scoring with her 15.6 points per game. The Maryland-Eastern Shore (Division I) transfer also leads the Redhawks in steals with a total of 45 this season.
 
Junior forward Marissa Sell averaged a double-double for the second consecutive season as she is scoring 12.5 points and a team-high 10.6 rebounds per game.
 
From long range, Ashley Cianfriglia is shooting 34.6 percent from beyond the arc this season. Freshman Emily Piacentini is right behind whit her 27.8 percent shooting from three-point range.
 
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (17-11/11-8 Heartland)
The Eagles won the NCCAA's Central Region title by defeating in-state rivals Mid-American Christian University, 83-73, on Saturday. The win marks the program's second straight regional title after having come up short sine the 1985-86 season.
 
Three players are scoring in double-digits for the Eagles this season, led by Sydney Hill. The sophomore guard is averaging 10.7 points per game after shooting 36.7 percent from the field. She also leads the team with 52 steals.
 
Roz Hamilton, a senior forward, also average slightly more than 10 points per game while leading Oklahoma Christian in rebounding with her 8.1 boards per game.
 
UP NEXT
The winner of the game will face the winner of the #1 Lee (Tenn.) University/#8 Grace (Ind.) College game in the first semi-finals match-up on Thursday at 3:30pm.
 
The loser will be sent to the consolation bracket which will come against the loser of the Lee/Grace game on Thursday morning at 8:30am.
 
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