The Basics
Score: Roberts Wesleyan 65-55 Northwestern (Minn.)
Record: Roberts Wesleyan 28-7 | Northwestern (Minn.) 23-7
Location: Manahan Orthopedic Capital Center – Winona Lake, Ind.


WINONA LAKE, Ind. –Roberts Wesleyan women's basketball rallied from a first quarter deficit to edge Northwestern (Minn.) in the NCCAA National Championship semifinals Thursday afternoon, 65-55.

Senior forward Samantha Courtney led the two-seed Redhawks with 25 points and 11 rebounds as the team advances to the championship game against top-seed Colorado Christian on Saturday.

How It Happened
The six-seeded Eagles shot out of the gates as they sprinted out to an 11 point lead at the midpoint of the first quarter before heading into halftime with a slight 22-19 lead.

Roberts Wesleyan took control in the third quarter as they poured in 27 points in the 10-minute span before leading by as much as 13 points late in the fourth quarter.

Key Stat
The Redhawks held Northwestern to just one free-throw as the team committed just five fouls the entire game.

Inside the Numbers
- The Redhawks shot 70.0 percent from the line, converting 14 of 20 free-throws.
- Brooke Fields added 16 points in the win, 12 of which came from beyond the arc as she went 4 of 9 from deep.
- As a team, Roberts Wesleyan was out-rebounded 43 to 30, but forced the Eagle to commit 21 turnovers while scoring 17 points off of Northwestern's miscues.
- Both teams scored 20 points under and around the basket.

"Fields'" Impact
The sophomore forward was 4 of 6 from three-point range in the second half to propel Roberts Wesleyan's second half surge.

Fields was also 2 for 2 at the line to go along with a pair of assists and one steal.

Up Next
Roberts Wesleyan will look to capture their first NCCAA women's basketball national title on Saturday when they face Colorado Christian, an NCAA Division II member. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.