BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team closed out the first semester undefeated after rolling to an 80-50 victory over Wheaton College Thursday evening.
 
Hawk Highlights
Karli Opalka: 28 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
Kendi Barnard: 10 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks, 3 steals
Reese Codero: 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Katie Galligan: 7 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals
Emily Yonych: 4 points, 12 rebounds
 
For The Opponents
Abby Fernandes: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Greta Minos: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals
Tianna Rogers: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal
Lindsey Oliveira: 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks
 
How It Happened
The Hawks put the game away early, as Roger Williams jumped out to a 17-0 lead to begin things. Karli Opalka (Southbury, Conn.) scored the first seven points for Roger Williams in the game and accounting for 11 of the Hawks' 17 points over the opening run. RWU's defense held Wheaton to 0-for-9 shooting and forced three turnovers over the first five minutes of play. Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) got Wheaton on the board with a layup at 5:03 to end the Roger Williams run. The Lyons would total 11 points in the first quarter, but RWU would still hold on to a 24-11 run entering the second quarter.
 
Wheaton shot a little better in the second quarter, going 6-for-14 from the field. Conversely, Roger Williams struggled a bit shooting in the period, only hitting 25 percent of their shots (6-for-24). Despite the subpar shooting for RWU in the quarter, the Hawks still outscored Wheaton 15-13 in the period, taking a 39-24 lead at the half.
 
Roger Williams had the game comfortably in hand in the third and fourth quarters. A three-pointer by Reese Codero (Whitman, Mass.) in the third helped cap off a 10-0 run for the Hawks that would put them up 51-28 with 4:13 left in the period, their largest lead to that point. RWU's lead would not drop below 20 from there on.
 
Codero, Opalka, and Kendi Barnard (Bedford, N.H.) enjoyed career bests in the game, with Codero dropping 13 points, Opalka with 28 points, and Barnard notching her second double-double with a career-high five blocks.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams (8-0): Friday, December 30 vs. Susquehanna (WPI Tournament) @ 6:00pm
Wheaton (5-5): Saturday, December 11 vs. Salve Regina @ 1:00pm