Box Score WINONA LAKE, IND. – The Roberts Wesleyan College women's basketball team is at its best when it receives balanced scoring. Wednesday afternoon is the perfect example.
Senior guard Taryn Wilson made 5 three-pointers and scored 17 points as the eighth-seeded Redhawks grabbed an early lead and defeated top-seeded College of the Ozarks 71-56 at the National Christian College Athletic Association Tournament hosted by Grace College.
The Redhawks will play No. 5 Oakland City in the semifinals at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Oakland City defeated No. 4 Northwestern 79-67 on Wednesday.
"It was a great team win," Roberts coach Kevin Clifford said. "Our defense was really good and when we make 10 threes and out-rebound the other team, we usually do pretty well."
Sophomore guard Danielle DiCintio added 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and classmate Georgia Haverlock contributed 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Senior center Dimitra Gkizani added 11 points and 7 rebounds and sophomore guard Toni Neely-Primus added 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Roberts made 10 of 25 three-point attempts and held a 45-36 advantage in rebounds.
"Dani DiCintio really set the tone passing the ball and with her decision making," Clifford said. "Taryn made 5 threes and our outside shooting really opened some things up for us."
Roberts (16-12) used its long-range shooting to take an early 8-2 lead as Neely-Primus and Wilson connected on back-to-back possessions early in the first quarter.
Senior forward Maia Wong scored twice during a 6-0 run midway through the second quarter as the Redhawks opened a 32-19 advantage. Roberts closed the second quarter on a 5-0 run in the final two minutes, using a basket by DiCintio and a 3-pointer by Neely-Primus to take a 37-23 lead into halftime.
Roberts, which did not trail in the game, extended its lead to as many as 23 points in the third quarter.
The NCCAA Tournament continues through Saturday.