ATLANTA, Ga. – Despite
McKenzie Matheny (Fairfax Station, Va./West Springfield) registering Randolph-Macon's first double-double of the season, the Eagles defeated the Yellow Jackets, 68-59 at the Emory Tip Off Classic.
The Basics:
Score: Emory 68, #12 Randolph-Macon 59
Venue: Atlanta, Ga. // Woodruff PE Center Arena // Emory University
Records: #12 Randolph-Macon (2-1, 0-0 ODAC), Emory (3-0, 0-0 UAA)
How it Happened
- Randolph-Macon presented a balanced attack in the opening three minutes of the game, as a Matheny jumper was followed by a tip-in from Emion Byers (Louisa County, Va./Louisa) and three ball from Erin Porter (Virginia Beach, Va./Kettle Run) to put RMC up seven-to-two. While Matheny was able to knock down two more free throws and a layup to give the Lemon and Black 11, the Eagles registered a free throw, jumper and layup to get within four, down seven-to-11 halfway through the frame. After neither program could record a point for over two minutes, Sam Smith (Chesterfield, Va./St. Gertrudes) found Emily Olsen (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) for a layup before the Eagles countered with a layup of their own. Matheny closed out the quarter with two more baskets in the paint, giving her team a 17-13 advantage after one.
- Emory found momentum in the second quarter, opening the frame with seven consecutive points before a floater from Matheny ended the run with her team down 19-20. With just over five minutes remaining before the half, the Eagles assembled another run, this time a seven-to-three run, that was broken up by a triple from Anna Wilcox (Asheville, N.C./A.C. Reynolds). Emory held a 27-22 lead with 4:45 left in the quarter until back-to-back midrange shots dropped for Matheny, getting her team within one. After a timeout from RMC, Emory closed the half with six-straight points, coming in the form of a triple and three free throws to put them up, 33-26 at the break.
- The Yellow Jackets were able to get to the line to start the third, knocking down four free throws in their first six points to get within six, down 32-38. The Eagles retaliated with an and-one, getting three points the old fashioned way to get out to a 41-32 lead. Although the senior from Fairfax Station earned her team another deuce, a three-pointer and tip-in from EU forced an RMC timeout while down 34-46. After the break and a few subs from the Yellow Jackets, RMC got back within 10 after Madison Langdon (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) laced a three to bring the score to 42-52. After a triple from the Eagles, the two teams traded buckets, with Emory holding a 55-45 advantage before the fourth.
- Byers started to heat up at the start of the fourth, sinking a shot from distance and one from midrange to get her squad within seven, down 50-57. Porter then found the cup, as she posted back-to-back layups after a steal from Matheny to bring the contest within three. With four minutes remaining in the game, Smith started to heat up, as she pulled the Yellow Jackets within two after a layup and triple to help RMC find itself down, 59-61. Even though the Lemon and Black brought the game back to one possession, a few tough fouls down the stretch helped the Eagles to the line, winning the game 68-59.
Inside the Numbers
- The Yellow Jackets and Eagles each knocked down 22 shots and both recorded 38 rebounds but Emory held an 18-10 advantage in free throws made.
- The Eagles won the turnover battle, generating 16 from the Yellow Jackets and only committing nine.
- Randolph-Macon outscored Emory 31-26 in the first and fourth quarters, holding the Eagles to just 13 in each frame.
- Matheny finished with game-highs in points (21), rebounds (12) and field goals (eight), as her game-high 37 minutes also led to two blocks and two steals.
- This was Matheny's seventh double-double for RMC and her first of the season. Additionally, her 12 rebounds is the second-highest single game mark of her Yellow Jacket career.
- Porter finished the contest with 11 points on four-of-14 shooting. She has now knocked down a three in each of her three games played.
- After finishing the game with 10 rebounds, Byers' 23 rebounds this season surpasses her rebound total from last year's campaign (21). The senior's 10 boards ties her career-high, which she established in the 2023 season.
- Wilcox joined Matheny as the only Yellow Jackets to record at least one steal and one block in the game. This is her first time accomplishing the feat.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets finish their play at the Emory Tip Off Tournament tomorrow, November 16, against Bethany for a Sunday 1:00 p.m. contest
