AMHERST, N.Y. – For the first time in program history the Roberts Wesleyan women's basketball team are East Coast Conference champions after knocking off No. 1 seed Daemen College on Saturday afternoon, 59-53.
Roberts entered the championship game on a six game winning streak with its last loss coming at the hands of Daemen on Feb. 17 in the Voller Athletic Center when the Wildcats downed the Redhawks 58-42. Roberts hadn't beaten Daemen in the past seven matchups between the two teams heading into Saturday's title game. But the Redhawks and their scrappy zone defense picked the game that mattered most to upset the nationally-ranked Wildcats.
Three starters scored in double digits for Roberts with junior
Taryn Wilson leading the way with 19 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two assists. The Honeoye Falls native was 5-for-10 from beyond the arc, but no shot was more impactful than the three-pointer with 45 seconds remaining that broke the 53-53 tied score to give the Redhawks the advantage. Wilson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Senior
Paige McCormick and junior
Dimitra Gkizani scored 17 points and 12 points, respectively. Both players were named to the All-Tournament team.
A three pointer by Daemen's Katie Titus gave the Wildcats a one point lead, 8-7, early in the first quarter but after a pair of successful free throws by McCormick on the next trip down the floor to put Roberts up 9-8, the Redhawks never relinquished the lead for the rest of the contest.
Roberts built a double digit lead and carried a comfortable cushion through the first half, but Daemen quickly closed the gap in the second half and kept hanging around for the remainder of the game. The Wildcats tied the score on two different occasions but the Redhawks answered each time to maintain the lead.
Defensively, the Redhawks gave Daemen fits forcing 12 turnovers with 10 total steals on the day. Sophomore
Madison McCormick had a game-high five steals. The Wildcats had a poor shooting day going 17-of-68 (25%) from the field and just 8-of-37 (21.6%) from three-point range. Roberts fared slightly better going 20-for-55 (36.4%) from the field and 8-of-25 (32%) from long range.
Daemen was led in scoring by Titus with 19 points. Caroline White posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
The conference title win earns Roberts an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament. It will be the first time in program history competing in the 48-team tournament. Tournament seeding will take place on Sunday, March 7 at 10 p.m. Roberts will learn its first matchup of the tournament which will take place back in Lumsden Gymnasium on the campus of Daemen College. Regional play at Daemen begins on Friday, March 12.
