DANVILLE, Va. – Liz Wyrick (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day) poured in career-highs in points (15) and rebounds (eight), helping Randolph-Macon take down Averett on the road.
The Basics:
Score: Randolph-Macon 66, Averett 54
Venue: Danville, Va. // Stuart James Grant Center // Averett University
Records: Randolph-Macon (15-6, 9-3 ODAC), Averett (6-14, 2-10 ODAC)
How it Happened
- On two of RMC's first three possessions of the game, Sam Smith (Chesterfield, Va./St. Getrudes) found McKenzie Matheny (Fairfax Station, Va./West Springfield) for driving layups, helping the Yellow Jackets earn a 6-2 lead. While Averett tied the contest at 6 apiece after a jumper and a layup, Porter nailed her first three of the afternoon with 5:52 to play in the first, recapturing a 9-6 lead. Then, including the triple, RMC assembled a 11-2 run, thanks to three consecutive layups from Wyrick and a deuce from Emion Byers (Louisa County, Va./Louisa). With 34 seconds left in the first, the Cougars hit a midrange shot to cut RMC's lead to 17-10 at the end of one.
- While Madison Langon (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) converted on a midrange shot of her own, Averett led a 8-2 run to open the second, putting them down 18-19 with 5:22 to go. Lilly Davis (Mooresville, N.C./Mooresville) ended the run with a layup before Porter buried back-to-back shots from distance, pushing her team back out to a 27-20 lead with 1:58 left before the break. After Wyrick completed the 8-0 run with a close-range shot, a layup from Zariia America got AU back on track, as it still trailed 22-29 with 1:18 to play. In the final minute, Porter laced her fourth three-pointer of the afternoon, before the Cougars made two consecutive layups, keeping the Lemon and Black ahead 32-26 at halftime.
- Riley White (Hamilton, Va./Virginia Academy) recorded the first bucket of the second half, before America responded with a three, getting her team within four, down 30-34. The Yellow Jackets recaptured the pressure immediately, as Wyrick converted on an and-one before finding White for her second basket of the day, giving the Lemon and Black a 39-30 cushion with 6:13 to go in the third. The road team capped off its eight-point run as Smith found Wyrick near the rim, giving the junior guard her ninth assist of the contest. The Cougars responded, as Jy'Lyia Mizell got back-to-back jumpers to go, getting the home team back within single digits. Randolph-Macon ended the quarter, leading 47-38, as Porter earned her game-high 17th point thanks to Smith's 10th dime of the game.
- Smith and Wyrick dropped in layups before both White and Porter cashed in on threes, surging the Randolph-Macon offense out to a 57-45 advantage. Even though DaiShaundria Giggetts converted on a three-point play as part of her own 5-0 run, Smith canned a three-pointer of her own with 1:01 left in the contest. Both Porter and Smith went on to make their free throws down the stretch, closing out a 66-54 win.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon led Averett in shooting percentage (46.6-to-44.7), field goals made (26-to-21) and three-pointers made (seven-to-five).
- RMC totaled 14 steals in the contest, falling just one short of its season-high (15).
- The Yellow Jackets paced the Cougars three-to-one in blocks, thanks to two from White.
- Smith finished with a career-high 11 assists to go along with nine rebounds and six points.
- Porter shot 8-of-16 from the field, including five-of-nine from three, totaling a game-high 24 points, five rebounds and three assists.
- She also game up with three steals in the contest, giving her a second-straight game with two-or-more steals.
- Wyrick finished with career-highs in points (15) and rebounds (eight) across a the most minutes she has seen in a single game (31).
For the Record
- After finishing the contest with 11 assists, Smith has surpassed 100 on the season, reaching 101. This marks the junior point guard's third consecutive season with over 100 assists.
Up Next
Women's hoops hosts (RV) Shenandoah on Wednesday, February 11 at 7:00 p.m. for their next matchup.
