SALEM, Va. - The Randolph-Macon women's basketball team took the third seed into the ODAC tournament in Salem on Friday to battle Roanoke in the Quarterfinals. The Maroons outlasted a fourth period comeback by the Yellow Jackets to take home a 77-69 win to advance to the semifinals.
The Basics:
Score: Roanoke 77, Randolph-Macon 69Â Â Â Â
Venue: Salem, Va.//Salem Civic Center
Records: Randolph-Macon (17-9, 13-6 ODAC), Roanoke (17-9, 12-7 ODAC)
How it Happened
- In the first period, Roanoke grabbed an early 10-4 lead with five minutes remaining. Jane Elkins (Annandale, Va./Bishop Ireton) accounted for all four of the Yellow Jacket points. Randolph-Macon struggled on the offensive side of the floor. Marisa Ziegler (Forest Hill, Md./John Carroll) nailed a three ball, nearing the end of the period to give the Lemon and Black some life. The Maroons would take a 21-8 lead into the second period.Â
- The Yellow Jackets found their footing in the second period, shooting 6-for-14 (.428). Smith led the way with four points for Randolph-Macon. Roanoke benefited from the foul count against the Lemon and Black in the first half, shooting 14-for-16 from the charity strike. Lilly Davis (Mooresville, N.C./Mooresville) made the final shot of the period, to pull Randolph-Macon within 16 points, as the Maroons went into the locker room up 38-22.Â
- In the third period, both teams would trade baskets for the first six minutes. Randolph-Macon did get the game within thirteen points, as Park made a three-pointer from the top of the key to make the game 40-27. The Maroons mounted their biggest lead of the game off a Kate Littlejohn three-ball with 2:56 left in the period, to make the deficit 56-34 for the Yellow Jackets. Cait Velez (Wallingford, Conn./Mark T. Sheehan) made a tough lay-up with seconds left in the period to pull Randolph-Macon within twenty points at 60-40 to end the third period.Â
- Bella Bruce (Herndon, Va./Westfield) gave Randolph-Macon life to begin the fourth period, nailing back-to-back three balls, but the Maroons would almost match every basket on the other end. The Yellow Jackets also benefited from a Ziegler and Park back-to-back three-pointers to bring the score to 69-56 Roanoke with just under five minutes remaining. The long range baskets kept falling for the Lemon and Black, as Bruce brought RMC back within ten points with the fifth three-pointer of the period, Roanoke still with the advantage 61-53. Lauren Keel made a tough lay-up plus the foul shot to put the game out of reach for Randolph-Macon, as the Maroons would lead 75-63 with :56 seconds remaining. Park knocked down a three-pointer, following a Roanoke turnover to again dwindle the Roanoke lead to 75-66. The Lemon and Black outscored the Maroons 29-17 in the fourth period, as RMC was able to get the deficit down to eight points twice, but Roanoke would take home the 77-69 win. Â
Inside the Numbers
- Roanoke shot 42.9% from the floor, as Randolph-Macon knocked down 39.4% of their shots.
- The Yellow Jackets outrebounded the Maroons 39-to-37.
- Park led the Yellow Jackets in scoring with 20 points, knocking down four three balls and shot 8-for-19 from the field.Â
- Elkins scored 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds and shot 6-for-10 from the field.Â
- Bruce was lethal from behind the arc, knocking down three shots from behind the arc and ended the game with 11 points.Â
- Smith pulled down ten rebounds, to record yet another career high for the third game in a row. The freshman also added six assists and seven points to her credit. Â
