Rio Grande beats Midway for another RSC Women's Basketball Championship
RIO GRANDE, Ohio -- University of Rio Grande (Ohio) used a big run at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth to secure a 93-72 victory over visiting Midway (Ky.) University in the 2022-23 River States Conference Women's Basketball Championship final.
The RedStorm (28-3), ranked No. 12 in the NAIA Top 25, had a 35-30 lead at the half and was ahead by 10 in the third quarter. But Midway (23-8) came back to tie the score at 55-55 in the final minute of the third.
But Rio Grande got the final four points of the quarter on a pair of free throws by Harlei Antritt and then a basket by Aleea Crites. That strarted a 16-0 run for the RedStorm, which spanned all the way to the 7:48 mark of the fourth. By then, it was 71-55 in favor of Rio Grande with the clinching run capped off by Ella Skeens with a 3-pointer.
It was the second RSC Championship title in a row for Rio Grande. Both of those have come versus Midway, a runner-up and a fellow national-tournament qualifier for a second year in a row.
When it was all said and done, Rio Grande had put up 34 points in the fourth quarter. Skeens finished with 29 points, seven rebounds and five assists to lead the way, and Kaylee Darnell was in with 15 points, nine boards and four assists.
Rio Grande shot 51 percent on the night with Crites getting 16 points and 11 rebounds on 8 of 10 from the floor. Lexi Woods had 11 points for two double-digit scorers off the Rio Grande bench.
Dezeree White had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Midway. Jalyn Jackson came off the Eagles bench for 19 points and five assists. Midway shot 32 percent as a team.
Rio Grande got out to a 19-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. But Midway won the second quarter, 21-16, to get back within five at the break. Rio Grande was ahead, 45-35, at the 6:39 mark of the third.
Rio Grande and Midway have both qualified for the NAIA National Championship as the RSC's automatic berths. Rio Grande got there as RSC Championship winner and the RSC regular-season champ. The No. 12-ranked RedStorm will host a first-and second-round site of the national tournament March 7-8.
Midway advanced to nationals as the RSC Championship runner-up and the RSC West Division champ. Both teams will learn their national pairings at the NAIA National Championship Selection Show on Thursday, March 2 a 7:00 p.m. ET.