GREENSBORO, N.C. – Randolph-Macon improved to 3-0 in conference play, after
McKenzie Matheny (Fairfax Station, Va./West Springfield) converted her first three-pointer of the season in the final second against Guilford.
The Basics:
Score: Randolph-Macon 64, Guilford 63
Venue: Greensboro, N.C. // Jack Jensen Court // Guilford College
Records: Randolph-Macon (9-3, 3-0 ODAC), Guilford (11-1, 2-1 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Over the course of the first 4:57, Guilford created a 10-2 lead for itself, highlighted by an early five rebounds and four points for Anna Giannopoulou. After Matheny posted two early free throws, Erin Porter (Virginia Beach, Va./Kettle Run) got her first three pointer to go, cutting the Yellow Jackets' deficit to five. While the Quakers responded with a three-pointer, Matheny registered a layup on the next possession, keeping her team within six, down 7-13. While this remained the score after one quarter, Brille Baughman (East Berlin, Pa./Delone Catholic) tallied a block with 1:42 left in the frame to keep her team in striking distance.
- Within the first minute of the second quarter, Guilford established a 16-7 lead after converting on a layup and free throw. Then, the Yellow Jackets erupted for a 10-1 run, after a triple from Madison Langdon (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) ignited the RMC offense to even the score, 17-17. On the run, Matheny nearly earned her double-double reaching nine points and eight rebounds with 5:15 remaining in the second. Even though the Quakers converted on a three ball the following possession, Riley White (Hamilton, Va./Virginia Academy) responded with two of her own, putting her squad up 26-24 just before the half.
- RMC controlled the pace to start the second half, as Sam Smith (Chesterfield, Va./St. Gertrudes) found Emion Byers (Louisa County, Va./Louisa County) for a deuce to extend RMC's lead to 28-24 within 27 seconds. The two programs remained within one point of each other until Guilford's Julianna Walter posted a layup to give the Quakers a 33-30 advantage. Not only did Porter immediately fire back with a shot from distance, but the sophomore also tallied the Yellow Jackets' next eight points, with her run being capped off with the conventional three-point play. Now up 38-35, the Lemon and Black were able to retain their advantage for the rest of the quarter, as Byers found her rhythm. The senior dropped RMC's next five points to give the Yellow Jackets a 45-43 lead heading into the fourth.
- Despite the home team converting on a three-pointer on its first possession of the fourth, a layup from Matheny helped RMC keep its one point lead. After the teams traded a few turnovers, the Quakers found themselves with a 57-51 lead with 5:11 left in the game, as Markayla Massenburg tallied her 21st point of the night. Just 20 seconds later, Porter continued her impressive shooting with yet another make from downtown, keeping her team within three, down 54-57. With 2:19 in the final frame, Anna Wilcox (Asheville, N.C./A.C. Reynolds) came up huge, lacing a three to tie the contest at 57. While RMC was able to get its point total to 60, a triple from Giannopoulou put the Quakers up, 63-60, with just five seconds left. In a storybook ending, Wilcox found Matheny in the clutch, drilling her first three of the season plus the foul, as the senior's ice-cold free throw gave RMC a 64-63 victory on the road.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon dominated the three-point arc, leading Guilford in three-point percentage (40.0-to-26.3) and total threes made (eight-to-five).
- RMC continues to succeed on the glass, as it out-rebounded GC 42-40, including 16-13 on the offensive side.
- The Yellow Jackets paced the Quakers 7-4 in blocks, marking a new team season-high.
- After nailing her first three pointer of the season, Matheny finished the contest with 20 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks and two assists.
- With her 10th rebound coming with four seconds remaining in the first half, Matheny has now put up a double-double in seven of her last eight games, including in each of her last three. Additionally, she has tallied 12-or-more rebounds in nine of her last 10 games.
- Porter finished the contest with 14 points, two assists and a rebound. After making three of her six triples, the sophomore has totaled three-or-more threes made in three of her last four games.
- Byers' nine points and eight rebounds are both the second-highest marks of her season.
Up Next
Women's hoops returns home for a 2:00 p.m. ODAC contest against Randolph on Saturday, January 10.
