SALEM, Va. - Randolph-Macon women's basketball saw
Catherine Kagey (Roanoke, Va./Faith Christian) lead the Yellow Jackets to their eleventh conference championship with another double-double performance, defeating Washington and Lee 65-58.
The Basics:
Score: (1) Randolph-Macon 65, (3) Washington and Lee 58
Venue: Salem, Va. // Salem Civic Center
Records: Randolph-Macon (27-1, 16-0 ODAC), Washington and Lee (24-4, 14-2 ODAC)
How it Happened:
- In the first eight minutes of the game, neither team was able to separate themselves from eachother. Kagey and Sam Smith (Chesterfield, Va./St. Gertrudes) led the way for the Yellow Jackets, totalling nine of the first thirteen points. Washington and Lee saw Mary Schleusner score seven of the first thirteen for the Generals and the score would be tied at 13-13 with 2:34 left in the first period. Juliana Park (Fairfax Station, Va./Davidson Day) nailed back-to-back baskets to push Randolph-Macon out to a 17-13 lead with 1:36 on the clock. The Generals added a basket under a minute on the clock, but the Lemon and Black would take a 17-15 advantage into the second period.
- In the second period, Washington and Lee was able to stay within two points of the Yellow Jackets for the first three minutes of the period. Randolph-Macon led 21-19 and conducted a 8-0 run that was led with six points from Kagey to push the lead to double figures at 29-19 with 4:42 left on the clock. Schleusner and the Generals pushed back with six straight points to pull within four points, still trailing 29-25. Emion Byers (Louisa, Va./Louisa County) recorded the final bucket of the period and Randolph-Macon took a 33-28 lead into halftime.
- Washington and Lee would get back within two points with an Elka Prechel three ball with the score set at 37-35 with 8:05 on the clock. Kagey knocked down a jumper and Park nailed a three ball to score five straight points and grow the Randolph-Macon lead back to 42-35 with 6:36 left in the period. The Generals scored eleven of the final fifteen points of the period, as Megan Zimmerman knocked down a three-pointer with :53 seconds to tie up the game at 46-46. The Lemon and Black had a chance to take the lead at the end of the period, Washington and Lee stopped the chance and the score would be tied going into the final ten minutes.
- In the fourth period, the Yellow Jackets grabbed a 50-48 lead that saw Smith and Matheny bury baskets. Schleusner scored the next four points for the Generals and would take a 51-50 lead with 4:47 left in regulation. McKenzie Matheny (Fairfax Station, Va./West Springfield) and Schleusner traded baskets and Washington and Lee would hold the lead at 55-54 with 3:08 left in the period. Kagey made four straight clutch free throws and Matheny made a layup to give the Lemon and Black a 60-55 lead, the Generals knocked down a three ball with :30 seconds left to cut the lead to 60-58. Kagey was fouled and made two more free throws to grow the Randolph-Macon lead to 62-58 with :25 seconds left in regulation. The game was won at the free throw line and the Yellow Jackets claimed the conference title by a score of 65-58.
Inside the Numbers:
- Randolph-Macon shot 32.3 percent from the floor, as Washington and Lee knocked down 38.1 percent of its shots.
- The Generals outrebounded the Yellow Jackets 44-to-43 in the entire game.
- The Lemon and Black knocked down 22-of-28 free throw attempts for the game.
- Kagey led the Yellow Jackets with her twelfth double-double of the season. The senior scored 25 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out two assists. She also added seven steals and two blocked shots.
- Matheny ended the game recording 12 points and eight rebounds. The junior also had one steal, one block and a assist.
- Smith notched 13 points, two assists and a blocked shot for the Yellow Jackets.
- Park ended the night with seven points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal.
- Morgan Miller (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) grabbed eight rebounds to go along with four points and two assists.
For the Record
- The win today wins the Yellow Jackets their first conference title since the 2019-20 season.
- The win tonight is also the 27th of the year for Randolph-Macon, the most since the 28-3 record set back in the 2005-06 season.
- Kagey has passed Pam Conk'92 for ninth most rebounds in school history with 789. The senior has also moved past Zander Smith'96 for eighth all-time in blocked shots with 90.
- Kagey, Matheny and Smith were all chosen to be on the All-Tournament team. Kagey was also named the tournaments most valuable player for her play in the three game stretch.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets will await the NCAA Women's Basketball selection show on Monday at 2:30 p.m.
