ASHLAND, Va. – Randolph-Macon women's hoops opened the RMC Tip Off Classic with a strong 60-48 victory over Mary Washington for its second home win of the season.
The Basics: #21 Randolph Macon 60, Mary Washington 48
Score:
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Crenshaw Gymnasium // Randolph-Macon College
Records: Randolph-Macon (3-2, 0-0 ODAC), Mary Washington (3-3, 0-0 C2C)
How it Happened
- Mary Washington took an early lead in the first quarter, holding a nine-to-four advantage through the first five minutes of play. After McKenzie Matheny (Fairfax Station, Va./West Springfield) tallied her second layup of the quarter, the Eagles countered with a layup of their own to earn an 11-6 lead. For the remaining three minutes of the quarter, the two teams traded turnovers but Matheny knocked down her first jump shot of the game to help the Yellow Jackets enter the second frame, down 11-to-eight.
- RMC was able to get within one after Riley White (Hamilton Va./Virginia Academy) nailed a three and Emion Byers (Louisa County, Va./Louisa) picked up a deuce, making the score 13-14 with 8:19 left in the quarter. Over the next six minutes, the two teams traded layups until Sam Smith (Chesterfield, Va./St. Getrudes) converted on a crafty fastbreak layup to give RMC its first lead of the game, 19-18. Matheny continued to produce, working her way into the paint on two more possessions to get her squad a three-point advantage, with the score sitting at 23-20. In the final 20 seconds, Smith was able to knock down another jump shot and with two seconds left, found a cutting Brielle Baughman (East Berlin, Pa./Delone Catholic) for a deuce, to cap off an electrifying half, holding a 27-23 lead at the break.
- While Mary Washington put a layup in within the first 12 seconds of the second half, two more layups from Matheny and one from Byers saw RMC get out to a 33-25 advantage. Erin Porter (Virginia Beach, Va./Kettle Run), hit one at the free throw line to cap off a seven-to-two run for the Yellow Jackets. Halfway through the third, Smith drilled a shot from distance to give the Lemon and Black their biggest lead of the night, finding themselves up 37-27. In the back half of the frame, Emily Olsen (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) posted two layups to extend RMC's lead to 44-33, heading into the fourth.
- The Eagles found momentum at the start of the frame, stringing together six-straight points to get within five, down 39-44. The two programs traded fastbreak buckets in the middle of the quarter until UMW got within three after a layup and free throw, down 46-49. After some impressive rebounding from Matheny down the stretch, Porter was able to register back-to-back fastbreak layups to get the Yellow Jackets back out to a 56-48 lead. In the final minute, Matheny found Smith for yet another triple, helping RMC close the game with a 60-48 victory.
Inside the Numbers
- Despite Mary Washington holding the advantage in field goal percentage (41.2-to-35.8), the Yellow Jackets earned 67 shot attempts while holding the Eagles to 51.
- The Yellow Jackets' defense shined as they only allowed three free throw opportunities from the Eagles on the night. RMC was able to get to the line 13 times, holding a nine-to-two advantage in free throws made.
- Matheny finished with game-highs in rebounds (16) and rebounds (15). Not only was this Matheny's second double-double of the season, she reached the 10-10 mark in the first half of play.
- Byers finished with 10 points on the night and tallied the second-highest rebounding mark in the game (eight). Her rebounding total is also her second-highest of the season.
- Smith contributed in all areas, compiling 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals across a game-high 38 minutes played. She has now registered 10-or-more points, six rebounds and six assists in two consecutive contests.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon is back in action tomorrow, Saturday, November 22, for its second game of the RMC Tip Off Classic. The Yellow Jackets are set for a 4:00 p.m. tip-off against the Gettysburg Bullets, as the two programs will wrap up tournament play.
