Roberts Wesleyan (2-1, 1-0 ECC)  42-37—79

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Sophomore Samantha Courtney (Marathon, N.Y.) totaled 22 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks to lead Roberts Wesleyan College to a 79-69 victory over Daemen College here tonight in East Coast Conference women's basketball action.

It marked the first-ever ECC game for Daemen (2-4, 0-1 ECC), which is in Candidacy Year Two of the NCAA Division II membership process. RWC, which is in Candidacy Year Three of the NCAA Division II membership process, improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the league.

Junior Ashley Cianfriglia (Syracuse, N.Y.) drilled three three-pointers and totaled 16 points and eight assists for RWC, while junior Chelsea Sanders (Rochester, N.Y.) contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds. Junior Marissa Sell (Brockport, N.Y.), the ECC Preseason Player of the Player, chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Freshman Natalie Galus (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier) paced the Wildcats, as she connected on four three-pointers and totaled 16 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Lindsay Stoddard (Limestone, N.Y./Allegany-Limestone) went 3-for-3 from downtown and totaled 15 points, five assists and five steals, while sophomore Raeann Stilwell (Cheektowaga, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) netted 12 points.

RWC made the most of its height advantage throughout the contest. The Redhawks have seven players on their roster listed at 6-foot or taller, led by the 6-foot-3 Courtney, compared to just one for Daemen. The Redhawks recorded eight blocks and finished with a commanding 42-22 edge in points in the paint.

RWC held a 13-12 lead seven minutes into the game when the Redhawks put together a 13-2 run. Sanders capped the spirt with six-straight points, giving the hosts a 26-14 advantage. Courtney later gave the Redhawks their largest lead of the first half when her putback made the score 36-18 with 6:01 left before intermission. Daemen scored 11 of the next 15 points and cut the lead to 11 points, 40-29, after freshman Leah McDonell (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Cardinal O'Hara) scored off a nice feed from fellow rookie Taylor Heinold (Hamburg, N.Y./Immaculata). RWC took a 42-29 lead into the break.

RWC scored the first four points of the second half and later opened up an 18-point lead, 59-41, after sophomore Lakiah Huff (Joppatowne, Md.) drained a three-pointer with 12:01 left.

The Wildcats battled back once again and cut the lead to 10 points, 68-58, following a 17-9 run. Freshman Rachel Pawlak (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara-Wheatfield) sparked the run with a three-pointer and a triple by Stoddard with 7:23 to play capped the run. Galus also drained a three-pointer during the spurt, while sophomore Samantha Wozniak (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) and Stilwell converted conventional three-point plays.

Neither team scored for the next two minutes, before the Redhawks secured the win with seven unanswered points. A three-pointer by junior Jenna Johnson (Tully, N.Y.) with 4:35 to play capped the run and gave RWC a 75-58 lead.

Daemen shot just 27-percent (10-37) in the first half, but regrouped and connected on 15-of-37 (41%) of its shots over the final 20 minutes. The Wildcats attempted 31 three-pointers in the game and connected on 11. The Wildcats committed 16 turnovers, which RWC converted into 24 points. The hosts shot 53-percent (19-36) in the first half and connected on 49-percent (35-72) of its shots overall. RWC finished with a 44-35 edge in rebounding.

Daemen is idle until Dec. 13 when it travels to LIU- Post for an ECC game.

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