ASHLAND, Va. – The Yellow Jackets out-rebounded the Hornets 42-to-22, helping them tie their season-long winning streak of six games.
The Basics:
Score: Randolph-Macon 62, Shenandoah 53
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Crenshaw Gymnasium // Randolph-Macon College
Records: Randolph-Macon (16-6, 10-3 ODAC), Shenandoah (16-6, 8-5 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Shenandoah started the first quarter on a 7-0 run after a three-pointer and two shots off the glass, but Anna Wilcox (Asheville, N.C./A.C. Reynolds) found Erin Porter (Virginia Beach, Va./Kettle Run) with a nice inbounding pass to get RMC on the board with a layup. Then, at the 5:51 mark, Liz Wyrick (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day) checked in and converted on back-to-back layups, after pick-and-roll assists from Riley White (Hamilton, Va./Virginia Academy) and Sam Smith (Chesterfield, Va./St. Gertrudes). While Porter gave the Yellow Jackets their first lead of the game, 9-8 with 4:01 left in the frame, a triple from Jessica Littlejohn put SU back ahead, 12-8 with three minutes remaining in the first. Randolph-Macon then applied the pressure, as they went into the second frame leading 16-12, thanks to three consecutive tough floaters from McKenzie Matheny (Fairfax Station, Va./West Springfield).
- While the Hornets closed the deficit to three, trailing 18-21 with 6:47 to play, a nice steal and fastbreak layup from Porter got her team back ahead by five. Shortly after, even though the Hornets hit two from the free throw line, some aggressive defense from the Lemon and Black led to another cutting layup from Wyrick, as Smith threaded the needle. After Smith went on to find Matheny for a deep two, giving her a game-high 10 points, RMC entered the half up 32-23, as Porter got through the defense for a buzzer-beating deuce.
- Porter caught fire to start the second half, as the sophomore guard tallied 11-straight points for the Yellow Jackets, in the form of three driving layups, two free throws and a make from downtown. The 13-4 run was capped off by a long midrange shot from Wilcox, pushing the Lemon and Black to a 45-27 cushion with 5:56 remaining in the third. Randolph-Macon held the Hornets to just nine points in the quarter, as it paced Shenandoah 45-32 after three with the road team earning the final five points of the quarter.
- Porter located Matheny for an emphatic and-one to start the third, increasing the home team's lead to 47-32 on the first possession. While a three and free throws form Addisyn Banks cut the lead to 37-50, layups from Matheny and Wyrick surged the Yellow Jackets back out to a 54-37 lead with 6:11 to play. With under two minutes remaining, White hit Smith for a three-ball before Matheny assisted Emion Byers (Louisa County, Va./ Louisa) on the baseline, icing a 62-53 victory, following three timeouts from the Hornets.
Inside the Numbers
- In the first half of the contest, Randolph-Macon totaled 38 field goal attempts, while Shenandoah only had 20.
- Also in the first half, RMC out rebounded SU 28-to-11, including 15-to-0 on offensive rebounds.
- The Yellow Jackets held total advantages in rebounds (42-to-22), offensive rebounds (18-to-2) and field goal percentage (41.7-to-39.5).
- Porter finished with a game-high 22 points, three rebounds, three steals and an assist across her 36 minutes of play.
- The sophomore also tied her career-high with nine field goals made, finishing the contest on 9-of-14 shooting.
- Matheny finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and a block. The senior forward has now notched a double-double in each of her last five games played (min. five minutes).
- Wyrick added 10 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes, while knocking down five of her nine shots.
- Smith completed the contest with six assists, four points, four rebounds and three steals.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets battle Guilford on Saturday, February 14, at 4:30 p.m. in Crenshaw Gymnasium, following RMC's Senior Day recognition.
