VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – McKenzie Matheny (Fairfax Station, Va./West Springfield) was one of four Yellow Jackets to reach the double-digit scoring mark, as her game-high 21 points were almost enough to take down Virginia Wesleyan on the road.
The Basics:
Score: Virginia Wesleyan 71, Randolph-Macon 61
Venue: Virginia Beach, Va. // TowneBank Arena // Virginia Wesleyan University
Records: Randolph-Macon (10-6, 4-3 ODAC), Virginia Wesleyan (10-6, 4-3 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Over the course of the opening 2:56, the Marlins jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead, after VWU's Jaiden Hunter tallied a team-high four points. With 6:35 remaining in the first, Matheny grabbed an offensive rebound and was then fouled, getting her squad on the board with a free throw. While Hunter posted another layup after her team extended the possession, Liz Wyrick (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day) responded with a layup of her own, as the Yellow Jackets trailed 3-11. The defense tightened up for both programs in the final 2:38 of the first, as a free throw from Riley White (Hamilton, Va./Virginia Academy) saw Lemon and Black trail 4-13 after the first.
- While Erin Porter (Virginia Beach, Va./Kettle Run) dropped in her first bucket early in the second quarter, Brianna Long piloted a seven-point run to put the Marlins up, 21-6. After Sam Smith (Chesterfield, Va./St. Gertrudes) ended the run with a layup, RMC found its momentum, as Porter and Matheny helped close the gap to 13-23 after a combination of close shots and free throws. Down 10 with 4:52 left in the half, Randolph-Macon allowed Virginia Wesleyan to increase its lead to 29-14, before a jumper from Wyrick cut the run with 2:49 to go. WVU was only to score three points over the course of the next two minutes, while offensive rebounds from Emion Byers (Louisa County, Va./Louisa) and Wyrick led to points from Smith and White. As RMC was able to apply some pressure toward the end of the half, a bucket at the buzzer from the Marlins gave them a 34-22 lead at the break.
- Matheny earned the first points of the second half, notching her eighth point after a turnaround jumpshot to put her team down 24-34. Even though WVU responded immediately with a layup, Smith laced a three ball after an offensive rebound to cut the deficit to single digits, down 27-36 with 8:10 left in the third. The scoring from the Marlins remained consistent through the middle of the frame, but made field goals from Matheny and Porter kept the contest at single digits, with the Yellow Jackets closing the gap to 33-40 with 4:36 remaining. Another triple from Smith, followed by an and-one from Porter, saw the Lemon and black get within six, trailing 39-45 with under two minutes in the third. With just a second left on the clock, Madison Langdon (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) was fouled on a shot from distance, as she knocked down all three free throws to pull her team within five, down 43-48, heading into the final quarter.
- The Marlins created a 52-43 lead in the first 51 seconds of the fourth quarter, led by a three-pointer from Keira Bagwell. White responded with a triple of her own with 8:33 to go, before a layup from Porter slashed VWU's lead to six. Just as a layup and free throw from White helped the Yellow Jackets apply pressure, the Marlins jumped out to a 64-51 lead with 2:43 to go, as the home team was able to knock down its free throws. While Matheny took over in the fourth with four baskets in the closing minutes, the Randolph-Macon second-half effort fell just short, with the Marlins grabbing a 71-61 win.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon led Virginia Wesleyan in offensive rebounds (12-to-11), steals (10-to-6) and blocks (3-to-2), while limiting its turnovers (14-to-17) and fouls (21-to-22).
- The Marlins paced the Yellow Jackets in shooting percentage (50.0-to-38.6) and free throw percentage (71.0-to-60.9).
- En route to her game-high 21 points, Matheny tied her season-high in field goals made (nine), while also adding four rebounds and a steal.
- White's 11 points and two steals tie her career-highs, while also contributing five rebounds. The sophomore went four-of-six from the line, with the four made representing a career and game-high.
- Smith and Porter both scored 10 points for the Yellow Jackets, while logging a team-high 37 and 35 minutes respectively. Smith also knocked down two of her three shots from downtown.
Up Next
Women's hoops returns to action on Friday, January 23 at 5:00 p.m., as the Yellow Jackets will host Roanoke in Ashland, Virginia.
