(ASHLAND, Va.) – The final home game of the calendar year was a good one for Randolph-Macon as it defeated defending ODAC champion Lynchburg in women's basketball Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets remained unbeaten in league play and handed the Hornets just their second loss of the year and first in ODAC action.

The Basics

Score: Randolph-Macon 73, Lynchburg 61

Venue: Crenshaw Gym

Records: Randolph-Macon 5-2, 3-0 ODAC; Lynchburg 4-2, 1-1 ODAC

How It Happened

• A back and forth game swung in favor of the Lemon and Black midway through the second quarter thanks to a strong finish to the half. Cheridan Hatfield (Sr., Fishersville, Va. / Wilson Memorial) sparked a 16-3 run over the last 5:07 with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 26-all. She followed with a layup on an Aimee DeBell (Sr., Studley, Va. / Saint Gertrude) assist to give the Jackets the lead for good. The lead built to 12 before the Hornets' Olivia Harris put in a jumper at the end of the quarter.
• The pressure ensued in the third as the Jackets pushed the lead to 19 on a couple of occasions thanks to buckets by Catherine Kagey (So., Roanoke, Va. / Faith Christian) and Marisa Ziegler (Fr., Forest Hill, Md. / John Carroll).
• The Hornets didn't give up, however, and made an effort to come back with a 10-2 run to cut the deficit back down to 11 at 62-51 on a Sammi Sever layup with 6:38 left in the game.
• RMC was able to answer in authoritative fashion with a 10-0 run of its own for its largest lead of the game. DeBell sparked it with a layup and a free throw and Kagey added four from the charity stripe before Juliana Park (Fr., Fairfax Station, Va. / Davidson Day) capped it with a triple to make the score 72-51.

Inside The Numbers

• Four of the starting five for the Jackets scored in double figures. Kagey led the group with 19 points. Becca Anthony (Sr., Amelia, Va. / Amelia) tallied 14 with three big 3-pointers. Hatfield finished with 12 and DeBell added 11.
• DeBell did well finding open players as she dished out six assists to lead the team. She also pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.
• Strong defense helped stop the Hornets from gaining too much momentum and all five starters recorded at least one steal. Hatfield swiped five, her most since six in the NCAA tournament against Oglethorpe in 2020.
• Lynchburg's Sammi Sever scored her average of 21 points and Lizzie Davis added 18, but the rest of the Hornets starters were limited to eight points.

Up Next

The Yellow Jackets will now start a five-game road stretch beginning this Wednesday when they head to Guilford. Tip-off with the Quakers is set for 7 p.m. It will be their final conference game of the calendar year.