Posted: Mar 18, 2016
- The duo of Samantha Courtney (25 points, 11 rebounds; 9-11 FT) and Brooke Fields (16 points, 4-9 3FG) sparked Roberts Wesleyan to a come-from-behind win Thursday over the University of Northwestern (MN) in the NCCAA Division I semifinals, 65-55, setting up a title tilt against top seed Colorado Christian on Saturday. The Eagles raced to an 11-0 lead after five minutes of play, setting the Redhawks on their heels, but RWC notched the last six points of the period to cut the margin to 11-6. UNW extended the lead to 22-12 with 3:19 left in the half but another nice closing burst by the Redhawks (7-0) got them within 22-19 at the break. UNW’s edge stood at 26-19 less than ninety seconds into the third period when RWC exploded on a game-changing 21-5 run. Fields (8 points) and Lucy Covely (six of her nine points) each buried two three-point shots and Courtney added five points in the span which ended with RWC ahead, 40-31, at the 3:30 mark. They never lost the lead (46-37 after three frames) although the Eagles did rally to slice the deficit to 46-42 early in the fourth quarter. The Redhawks responded with the next seven points (53-42, 6:50), which saw a Covely trey surrounded by four Courtney points, and things were solidly in hand. UNW did try to make another push yet never came any closer than six points the rest of the way and will head to the third place game on Saturday. Roberts Wesleyan was dominant at the line, going 14-20 while UNW was just 1-1; the Redhawks were called for only five fouls all game (UNW whistled for fourteen). Shooting stats otherwise were close (36% FG each; RWC had a 7-6 edge in 3FG’s) but while the Eagles had the better of the glass (43-30; including 16-8 in offensive caroms), the Redhawks ruled in the turnover game (21-11 edge, leading to a 17-6 plus in points-off-turnovers). Amy Berglund (12 points) and Kim Campbell (11 points) led the scoring for the 23-7 Eagles. Next up for the Redhawks is #1 seed Colorado Christian (23-9, the most wins in CCU history), a fellow NCAA Division II outfit which plays in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. RWC has never won the NCCAA Division I national crown; CCU has claimed one championship, in the 2011-’12 season.