Posted: Mar 21, 2016
- For the first time in their history, Roberts Wesleyan won the NCCAA Division I national championship on Saturday, surging past top seed Colorado Christian, 70-58, in the final game of the tournament in Winona Lake, Indiana. Brooke Fields (20 points) was central to the victory, scoring half the points in a killer 16-0 third period run for the Redhawks, as the #2 seed flipped a 28-27 deficit into a 43-28 lead midway through the quarter. The Cougars (23-10) inched within six points thanks to a 13-4 rally (47-41) and were still as close as seven points (51-44) with 8:36 to play but another RWC spree, this one a 12-2 run (Fields had five points), made it a 64-46 game at the 5:20 mark and put the win on ice. Fields was named to the all-tournament team while Samantha Courtney (11 points) was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Necedah James added ten points for the Redhawks as they completed their best season ever (29 wins). The first half of the title tilt was close, ending with CCU ahead at the break, 27-25, but it didn’t last despite solid work from the quartet of Claire Paxton (17 points), Kate Louhan (12 points, 12 rebounds), Ali Meyer (10 points, 10 caroms) and Kaitlyn Hinch (10 points). RWC benefitted in a big way at the line (23-36; CCU 5-9 FT) as they committed fewer than half the fouls the Cougars did (28-12). Turnovers were another key component for the Redhawks, as they prompted eight more (21-13) and turned it into a 23-6 edge in points-off-mistakes. Roberts Wesleyan also limited CCU to 1-16 three-point shooting, making up for the Cougars rebounding advantage (47-34). Redhawk head coach Gary Andrews wrapped up his first season at the helm not only with a national title but with NCCAA Coach of the Year honors, finishing off a memorable campaign.