ASHLAND, Va. – Women's hoops posted a season-high 69 points to earn their 10th win of the season, as three Yellow Jackets scored in double figures.
The Basics:
Score: Randolph-Macon 69, Randolph 43
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Crenshaw Gymnasium // Randolph-Macon College
Records: Randolph-Macon (10-3, 4-0 ODAC), Randolph (6-7, 0-3 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Randolph-Macon controlled the pace of the game for the first 4:10, as the Yellow Jackets posted the first six points of the contest, highlighted by a steal and fastbreak layup from Erin Porter (Virginia Beach, Va./Kettle Run). The WildCats were able to get back within one, down 5-6, after Makiah Scott sank back-to-back layups. In the final 90 seconds of the quarter, Porter continued to generate offense, as the sophomore guard led her team to a 11-5 lead after a driving layup and corner three on the final two possessions of the frame.
- Randolph-Macon was able to extend its lead to 15-5 with 6:10 left in the half, after layups from Sam Smith (Chesterfield, Va./St. Gertrudes) and McKenzie Matheny (Fairfax Station, Va./West Springfield). While Taniya Jackson was able to make two buckets to end the WildCats' scoring drought, a triple from Smith and back-to-back threes from Porter helped RMC earn a 29-14 advantage with 1:59 left in the second. Despite a WildCat free throw with seven seconds remaining, RMC held RC to just three points in the final 4:38 of the half.
- After totaling 18 points in the first half, Porter picked up where she left off, as she nailed a three pointer from the wing on RMC's first possession to give her squad a 32-17 advantage just 26 seconds into the third. For the next four minutes, Smith, Matheny and Madison Langdon (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) all buried free throws before another layup from Matheny gave RMC a 41-25 lead with 4:21 to go in the third. While a jumper by Riley White (Hamilton, Va./Virginia Academy) gave the Lemon and Black their biggest lead of the afternoon, up 43-25, they ended the third frame with a 45-30 cushion.
- Smith caught fire to start the fourth, as the junior guard laced two consecutive threes as part of a larger 8-0 run to push RMC's advantage to 50-30 with 8:27 remaining in the contest. Not only was she then able to get to the basket on a difficult baseline drive for a reverse layup, but she nailed a three pointer plus the foul with 3:54 left to put the game out of reach, up 61-34. En route to the 69-43 win, Lila Donnelly (Chesterfield, Va./Monacan) Liz Wyrick (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day) and Rachael Anderson (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) were all able to score to help give RMC its fourth conference win of the season.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon led Randolph in field goals made (22-to-16), field goal percentage (40.7-to-29.1), three pointers (nine-to-two) and three point percentage (37.5-to-11.8).
- After pacing the WildCats in rebounds (43-to-32), the Yellow Jackets have now held a rebounding advantage in all seven of their home and neutral contests this season.
- Porter led the Lemon and Black in scoring (22) and also added three steals, two assists, two rebounds and a block.
- After shooting five-of-nine from deep, she has now drilled three-or-more threes in four of her last five games. Additionally, her .667 field goal percentage and .556 three point percentage in today's contest both mark personal bests (min. 5 attempts).
- Smith finished the contest with 18 points, six rebounds and two assists during her team-high 31 minutes of play. The ODAC assist leader has found a scoring groove, as she has notched double-digit scoring in four of her last five games.
- Her six field goals made and four three pointers made both mark season-highs.
- Matheny ended the game with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while shooting a team-best five-of-six from the field. The senior forward has now ended with double figures in 11 of RMC's 13 games this season, including in each of her last five games.
For the Record
- Randolph-Macon has now won 19 of its last 20 contests against Randolph. Furthermore, RMC has won 26 consecutive home games against RC, with an overall home record of 26-1 against the WildCats.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets travel to Winchester, Virginia, to face #23 Shenandoah at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14.
