SALEM, Va. – In an incredible back-and forth contest, the Yellow Jackets fell just short in the conference title game, despite an impressive fourth quarter lead in a game that saw six lead changes.
The Basics:
Score: #4 Washington and Lee 67, Randolph-Macon 56
Venue: Salem, Va. // Salem Civic Center
Records: Randolph-Macon (21-7, 13-3 ODAC), #4 Washington and Lee (28-0, 16-0 ODAC)
How it Happened
- While the Generals opened the Championship game with back-to-back fastbreak layups, a reverse layup from Erin Porter (Virginia Beach, Va./Kettle Run) and drop step from McKenzie Matheny (Fairfax Station, Va./West Springfield) pulled RMC within two, down 6-4 after 2:27 of play. The Generals went on to apply defensive pressure in their offensive zone, as they earned a 10-4 advantage with 5:17 to go. Matheny had the answer with another crafty move down low before Smith dropped in a teardrop floater, knotting the contest at 10. Smith continued to produce, as she knocked down a deep two before locating Riley White (Hamilton, Va./Virginia Academy) in the corner for three, sending the game to the second, tied 15-15.
- Matheny took the contact and dropped in a bucket to start the scoring for the Yellow Jackets, but it was Mary Schleusner who led an 11-2 run for the Generals, putting them up 26-17 over the first 4:55. Smith ended the run with pair of free throws before Matheny got a midrange jumper to drop in off the glass, cutting the WLU lead to 26-21. The Lemon and Black remained resilient, as a deep triple from Anna Wilcox (Asheville, N.C./A.C. Reynolds) and free throws from Liz Wyrick (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day) and Emion Byers (Louisa County, Va./Louisa) pulled them within three with 1:25 left in the half. Porter laced a shot from downtown before a White steal resulted in a midrange jumper from Smith, sending RMC into the half with the momentum in a 31-31 game. Randolph-Macon ended the half on a 10-2 run, after it was trailing 29-21 with 3:25 on the clock.
- Washington and Lee put together a 12-0 run over the course of the first 4:50 of the third quarter, earning points from all three levels. Matheny then cut the run with a layup and a block on the other end, before Byers pulled off an and-one, bringing her team back to a 36-43 game with 4:00 to go. At the 2:30 mark, Langdon knocked down a stepback triple and Matheny converted an impressive scoop layup, inching RMC into a one-basket game with 1:25 left in the third. Smith went on to trade free throws for a deuce from the Generals, sending the game into the fourth with the Lemon and Black trailing 45-47.
- After the two programs traded gritty possessions for the first two minutes, Byers found Smith on the wing, who buried her first three of the game. Matheny went on to drop a slick pass for a cutting Wilcox before registering yet another rejection on the defensive side, keeping her team ahead, 50-49, with 6:41 to go. With 3:35 remaining, Matheny came up with a huge and-one to put the Lemon and Black down 55-56, in response to free throws from WLU. Despite the big play, the Generals controlled the glass in the final few possessions, securing a 67-56 win in the final game of the ODAC Championship.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon led Washington and Lee seven-to-six in offensive rebounds during the first half, as Smith pulled down seven total rebounds in the first 20 minutes.
- In the full contest, Washington and Lee paced Randolph-Macon 49-36 in rebounds.
- RMC held the advantage in three point percentage (33.3-to-20.0), steals (six-to-five) and points off turnovers (13-to-11).
- Smith led the team in points (18) and rebounds (eight) during her 35 minutes of play, tying the third-highest mark of her season in scoring.
- Matheny poured in 15 points on seven-of-16 shooting, four rebounds, an assist and a block.
- Porter and Byers finished play with 11 points, nine rebounds and an assist.
- Five different Yellow Jackets knocked down threes in the contest, with Langdon and Wilcox each making their only attempts from deep.
- White and Wilcox each had two steals, while White also grabbed five rebounds.
For the Record
- Both Matheny and Smith were named to the all-tournament team.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will await its potential selection in the 2026 NCAA DIII Basketball Tournament on Monday, March 2.
