Women's Basketball | 3/14/2026 2:52:13 PM

RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The University of Rio Grande made good use of big nights from Sophia Kline and Marlee Grinstead and pulled away in the second half for an 80-68 win over Rochester Christian (Mich.) University, Friday night, in the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship First Round presented by Ballogy at the Newt Oliver Arena.

Rio Grande, which is ranked No. 8 nationally and seeded second in the Naismith Quadrant of the 64-team tourney, improved to 31-1 and equaled the school record for consecutive victories with its 22nd straight triumph.

The RedStorm will face 10th-seeded Indiana Wesleyan University in the Second Round on Saturday at 7 p.m., with the winner moving on to the round of 16 next week at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Wildcats knocked off No. 7 seeded University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), 76-69 in overtime, in the other first round matchup at Rio.

Rochester Christian, the No. 15 seed in the Naismith Quadrant, led 20-19 after a layup by Samone Andrews with 43 seconds left in the first period, but Rio Grande responded with a 14-2 run - culminated by a layup by Grinstead - to take a 33-22 advantage with 6:12 remaining before halftime.

The Warriors refused to fold under the pressure of the hosts' surge and closed the gap to two twice - 37-35 following a bucket by Andrews with 1:33 left before the intermission and to 39-37 after a pair of free throws by Shahd Bakkar with 28 seconds remaining before the break.

The RedStorm lead remained a two-possession or less figure throughout most of the third quarter and into the final period until a three-pointer by freshman Allie Ellyson with 8:55 left to play pushed the advantage back into double figures, 64-53.

Thereafter, Rochester Christian twice cut the deficit to six, but failed to get any closer.

Kline, a junior from Sugar Grove, Ohio and Grinstead - a senior from Albany, Ohio - were two big reasons that the Warriors couldn't complete a comeback.

Kline scored 14 of her team-high 24 points in the second half, including 12 in the third quarter. She also had a game-best 12 rebounds and a team-high four steals in the win.

Grinstead added 12 of her 20 points over the game's final 20 minutes, including 10 in the final period. She also tied a career-high by handing out a season- and game-high nine assists.

Senior Marina Garcia Perez (Leon, Spain) added 10 points and six assists of her own for the RedStorm, who survived an uncharacteristic 19 turnovers by shooting 53.2 percent (33-for-62) from the field, 76.9 percent from the foul line (10-for-13) and outrebounding the Warriors, 35-22.

Rochester Christian shot just under 52 percent overall (27-for-52), but went just 11-for-16 at the foul line (68.8%) and committed 21 
Andrews led the Warriors with 24 points, while Jacey Somers had 20 points and five rebounds and Kendal Zeiter tallied 13 points, five steals and a blocked shot.

Amal Younes handed out four assists in a losing cause.