Courtesy: Redhawks Athletics
If the Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks want to defend their ECC crown, they need a run. And they started it on Saturday afternoon, defeating the University of District of Columbia Firebirds, 64-62 in the Voller Athletic Center.
The first quarter was a game of runs from both sides. Taryn Wilson and Dimitra Gkizani led the way with six points apiece, while sophomore Georgia Haverlock chipped in five. But the Firebirds went on a 10-0 run to pull within two, and the heartbeat of the Redhawks faithful rose.
However, Wilson, Haverlock, and Gkizani kept the Firebirds at bay, scoring 19 of the Redhawks 21 points to run into the halftime break up 21-15. The Redhawks also locked down on defense, holding the Firebirds to only five field goals made in the quarter.
Although Roberts rolled into halftime coming off a 56.3 field goal percentage before half, the Firebirds came out with a vengeance.
Coming out of the halftime break, Roberts did not score any points for the first five minutes, allowing the Firebirds to creep back in. And their once eight-point lead was dashed to just one after the third.
Trying to weather the storm, the Redhawks looked for a quality fourth-quarter start. But it was much of the same, as the Redhawks were held scoreless for almost four minutes. The momentum swung in favor of the Firebirds and Roberts found themselves in their biggest hole of the game down four.
But the senior leadership of the Redhawks helped keep the ship afloat. After the Firebirds took a 52-51 lead with 6:17 to go, Gkizani and Wilson took the game in their own hands, scoring 12 of the Redhawks final 14 points to secure the win.
The win snaps the Redhawks four-game losing streak and Wilson believes team basketball will get the Redhawks back to the ECC playoffs.
“For us, it’s playing team basketball and moving the ball around,” Wilson, who scored a career-high 27 points said. “Breaking the losing streak will hopefully get us prepared for the playoffs.”
Gkizani, who recorded her second consecutive double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, strikes a similar tone, saying the Redhawks need to stick together if they want to make another run.
“We need to stick together and play team basketball in these final weeks,” Gkizani said. “We cannot take anything for granted, as anyone can beat anyone in this league.
“We played team basketball tonight, especially in the first half moving the ball,” said head coach Kevin Clifford. “I’m proud of the leadership and effort.”
The win propels Roberts to 11-9 overall and 8-6 in East Coast Conference play. The Redhawks have a couple days off before hosting Queens (N.Y.) on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
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