Courtesy: Redhawks Athletics
Senior center Dimitra Gkizani scored eight points in a 1:53 span bridging the third and fourth quarters as the Roberts Wesleyan College women’s basketball team pulled away for an 76-63 victory over the University of the District of Columbia in an East Coast Conference game on Saturday.
Gkizani dominated the interior, scoring 17 points to lead four Redhawks in double figures, while pulling down a career-high 20 rebounds as Roberts (5-5, 2-2) handed UDC (7-6, 3-1) its first conference loss of the season.
“It was a career game for Dimitra, I am really proud of her.” Roberts coach Kevin Clifford said.
The 6-foot, 3-inch Gkizani overcame a slow start shooting to score 14 points in the second half.
“We really wanted to go inside in the second half,” Clifford said. “We did a good job of getting the ball in to Dimitra and she finished.”
Toni Neely-Primus scored 16 points, Taryn Wilson added 13 and Ashlynn McKnight delivered 10 for the Redhawks, who scored 30 points off Firebird turnovers. Sophomore Georgia Haverlock, the Redhawks’ leading scorer on the season, added eight points and Danielle DiCintio dished out six assists.
“It was a good team win,” Clifford said. “When we are balanced like that we are tough to beat.”
UDC pulled within two points with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter, but Roberts went on a 20-0 run, capped by McKnight’s 3-pointer with 7:36 remaining in the fourth, to regain control.
Roberts also used a 17-2 spurt in the first half to turn a six-point deficit into a 35-26 halftime lead. The Redhawks, who were playing their first game since Dec. 17, outrebounded UDC 45-37.
Roberts returns to action against the University of Bridgeport at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15.
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