HARRISONBURG, Va. - Randolph-Macon women's basketball saw four different players score in double-figures to lead the Yellow Jackets to a 65-52 win over Eastern Mennonite to begin conference play.
The Basics:
Score: (RV) Randolph-Macon 65, Eastern Mennonite 52
Venue: Harrisonburg, Va.//Yoder Arena//Eastern Mennonite University
Records: Randolph-Macon (6-1, 1-0 ODAC), Eastern Mennonite (6-3, 0-2 ODAC)
How it Happened:
- Eastern Mennonite used two straight three pointers to jump out to a quick 6-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game. The Yellow Jackets clawed back with five straight points of their own to put the score at 6-5 with 5:06 left. Marisa Ziegler (Forest Hill, Md./John Carroll) knocked down a three ball at the 3:26 mark to give Randolph-Macon its first lead of the game at 10-8. Jeriyah Osborne pushed the Royals back in front with a lay-up soon after. The Lemon and Black finished the final two minutes on a 7-0 run, capped off by a Morgan Miller (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) three pointer to give the Yellow Jackets a 17-13 lead after the first period.
- In the second period, Randolph-Macon used two Sam Smith (Chesterfield, Va./St. Gertrude's) free throws with 7:43 on the clock, giving the Yellow Jackets a 23-14 lead. Juliana Park (Fairfax Station, Va./Davidson Day) made a lay-up with 2:41 left in the half to push the biggest lead for the Lemon and Black at 29-19. The Royals did not go into halftime quietly, dwindling the deficit down to three points on an Osborne jumper, as Randolph-Macon took a slim 31-28 lead into the locker room.
- Randolph-Macon built its lead back up in the third period to ten points, as Catherine Kagey (Roanoke, Va./Faith Christian) knocked down a free throw to give the Yellow Jackets a 43-33 lead with 2:36 left in the period. Eastern Mennonite still fighting in the second half, scored the final seven of ten points to take a 46-40 deficit into the final ten minutes.
- In the fourth period, the Yellow Jackets were hot offensively, conducting a 12-2 run that lasted for almost four minutes. Bella Bruce (Herndon, Va./Westfield), Park and Smith all made three pointers during the run to highlight the offense for Randolph-Macon. The lead being at 58-42 for the Yellow Jackets; Eastern Mennonite was only able to get as close at ten points. Randolph-Macon would take home the road victory with a final score of 65-52.
Inside the Numbers:
- Eastern Mennonite shot 39.2 percent from the floor, as Randolph-Macon knocked down 38.3 percent of its shots.
- The Yellow Jackets outrebounded the Royals 44-to-30 in the entire game.
- McKenzie Matheny (Fairfax Station, Va./West Springfield) and Kagey each led the way with 12 points and eight rebounds each.
- Smith ended the game with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals to her credit.
- Park notched ten points to go along with eight rebounds and four assists.
- Bruce contributed seven points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots for Randolph-Macon.
For the Record:
- Randolph-Macon moved its win streak over Eastern Mennonite to nine with the win, last dropping a game to Royals in 2018.
- The win gives the Yellow Jackets a 6-1 record, the best start through seven games under the leadership of head coach Lindsey Burke-Eberhart.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will host Roanoke on Saturday, Dec. 7, for a 2 p.m. conference contest.
