ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan University women's basketball team overcame a 13-point third-quarter deficit to earn a 65-53 victory over Queens College in an East Coast Conference game on Saturday at the Voller Athletic Center.
Junior guard Danielle DiCintio made several clutch shots, including a 10-foot runner at the third-quarter horn, and led the Redhawks (4-17, 3-11 ECC) with 19 points.
Junior Georgia Haverlock added 18 points for Roberts while freshmen Grace Galgano and Paris Anthony added 13 points and 10 points, respectively. The afternoon was a special one as Roberts honored senior Ari Carey and graduate student Michela Contestabile before the game.
It was also Roberts' annual Redhawks Reach-out fund-raiser for Golisano Children's Hospital. Jacob Noyes, 24, who spent two months in the NICU at Golisano Children's Hospital served as honorary captain for the game and all proceeds from the game will benefit Golisano Children's Hospital and the Onnie Wells Fund.
"It honestly means so much for our team," DiCintio said of the victory. "We have been working so hard and sticking together so to be able to get this win, especially on Senior Day for Ari and Michela, was special."
DiCintio's buzzer-beater served as a springboard to a dominant fourth quarter for the Redhawks as Roberts outscored Queens 22-5 in the final 10 minutes.
"Every shot was big, but Dani's shot was a momentum changer," said Roberts coach Kevin Clifford.
Carey, who made her first career start on Saturday, agreed.
"I feel like that really gave our team energy," Carey said. "The bench really responded and we really took energy from that shot into the fourth quarter."
Roberts opened the final quarter with an 11-0 run that included two three-pointers by DiCintio and a long-range shot from Haverlock that gave the Redhawks a 51-48 lead with 7:21 to play. The basket was part of a 25-9 Roberts' run after Queens went ahead 39-26 with 6:34 remaining in the third.
Roberts connected on 17 of its 29 field goals (58.6%) in the second half and forced 25 turnovers in the game. The Redhawks limited Queens to 2 of 9 shooting from the field in the fourth.
"I am proud of the team, especially with all of the adversity that we have faced this season," Clifford said. "The team responded well and the defense was outstanding, especially holding them to five points in the fourth quarter."
DiCintio also led Roberts with 6 assists and contributed 3 rebounds and 3 steals. Anthony finished with five rebounds and freshman guard Riley Childress added three steals.
"We knew that we could play that way, we just needed to stay together and do it," DiCintio said.
Prior to the game, the Redhawks also announced that senior guard Ashlynn McKnight, who has missed most of this season with an injury, plans to return and play for Roberts next season.
Roberts concludes the regular season with two road games, starting with Thursday's 5:30 p.m. contest at the University of the District of Columbia.