ASHLAND, Va. – Randolph-Macon provided a balanced attack Thursday night, with the results proving positive for the Yellow Jackets as Women's Basketball defeated Lynchburg in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference contest to begin the New Year. The balanced attack from seniors Michal Ross (Glen Allen, Va. / Glen Allen) and Kelly Williams (Garysburg, N.C. / Halifax Academy) as well as sophomore Cheridan Hatfield (Fishersville, Va. / Wilson Memorial).

The Basics

Score: Randolph-Macon 75, Lynchburg 53

Location/Venue: Ashland, Va./Crenshaw Gym

Records: Randolph-Macon (3-6, 2-2 ODAC), Lynchburg (6-5, 3-2 ODAC)

How It Happened

• Randolph-Macon began the game on a 6-0 streak, which served the team well for the rest of the quarter as the Yellow Jackets never ceded the lead in the period. The Yellow Jackets answered nearly every Lynchburg shot, with six different Yellow Jackets chipping in points in the quarter as Williams earned four field goals. A Lynchburg 10-4 run helped get the score closer in the waning minutes and the Hornets got as close as one point away with about a minute to play, but R-MC still claimed the lead heading into the second quarter.
• A 5-0 run to begin the quarter helped R-MC out to a eight-point lead, but an 8-2 run by the Hornets cut the Yellow Jacket lead to just three approaching the midway mark in the second frame. The R-MC defense turned on the pressure from that point on though and did not allow the Hornets to score for nearly three minutes of play leading up to the three-and-a-half minute mark. Meanwhile, R-MC expanded its lead to ten as Ross hit a pair of jumpers and a free throw in the same timeframe. The lead got as much as 12 with about two-and-a-half minutes to play, but remained at nine at the halftime break.
• R-MC gave up two early three-pointers in the third frame, but then prevented all but two points to Lynchburg over the next three-and-a-half minutes. R-MC scored eight points in the same period, which helped give the Yellow Jackets an 11-point advantage approaching the media timeout in the period. After Lynchburg was able to grab a three-pointer, R-MC again went on a run, scoring eight in the remaining minutes of the quarter, taking a 14-point lead into the final frame.
• R-MC's lead got as high as 19-points early in the fourth quarter. The Yellow Jackets did not have many empty possessions down the floor as R-MC continued to maintain its double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest. R-MC allowed just three field goals in the final frame as the Yellow Jackets outscored the Hornets 17-9.

Inside The Numbers

• Ross led the team with 22 points and also finished with five rebounds and four steals, a team-high. The four steals tied Ross with sophomore Aimee DeBell (Studley, Va. / Saint Gertrude), who finished with six points and a pair of rebounds as well. DeBell led the team in blocks tonight with three total. 
• Junior Becca Arrington (Amelia, Va. / Amelia Academy) had six assists by halftime, which marked her total for the game and a new career high. She also finished with eight points and three rebounds as well as three steals.
• Williams finished with 17 points and nine rebounds. Fellow senior Charlotte Woods (Richmond, Va. / Trinity) added nine rebounds and three steals as well.
• Hatfield added 12 points, three assists and a pair of steals.
• The Yellow Jackets had 21 steals on the night. R-MC leads the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in steals thus far this season.
• Lynchburg never led in this contest.
• The win comes after the longest break between games that R-MC Women's Basketball has ever had. The Yellow Jackets last played on December 7, 2018 against Christopher Newport in a 95-87 overtime loss.

Up Next

Randolph-Macon will face Hollins on Saturday at 2:00 PM in Roanoke.