Lynchburg. Va- The Randolph women's basketball team took on Randolph-Macon on Wednesday night in a matchup of the preseason #1 and #2 teams in the ODAC.. Despite having the lead for the majority of the game, the Yellow Jackets were able to keep it close in the second half but In the end, the Wildcats were able to outlast R-MC 50-43.
The victory was the first for Randolph over the Yellow Jackets since January 2016 and ended an eight-game winless streak to them. The WildCats improve to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the ODAC.
In the first quarter, it was a back and forth contest for the first three minutes. With the Jackets leading 6-5 with 6:46 showing on the game clock, the Wildcats were able hold the Randolph-Macon to zero points while scoring thirteen of their own. Randolph hit three threes as they took a 18-6 lead after the first frame.
The 'Cats continued their run from the first quarter, with two three pointers early in the second quarter as the lead was pushed to 24-8. With just under five minutes having passed in the quarter, the 'Jackets turned the tables. Creating a small 8-2 run into the break, the lead was down to ten, 26-16. The Wildcats were dominant on defense in the first half, coming away with ten steals while forcing another five turnovers.
The 'Jackets continued their momentum into the second half. After both teams traded buckets for more than half of the third quarter, R-MC started their run with 4:23 remaining. Down by 11, the 'Jackets went on a 9-2 run and closed the gap to five. With the score 33-28 late in the third, the teams once again went back and forth on the offensive side. The quarter ended 35-31 in favor of the Wildcats.
Randolph quickly got back to their best at the start of the fourth. Generating a 7-0 run, the 'Cats led 42-31 with 6:59 remaining. Randolph-Macon wasn't finished yet, going on a 6-2 run of their own, as they were able to get the lead back down to five, 44-39 with just over a minute left in the game. The Wildcats were consistent from the line in the final minute which saw them keep the lead until the final buzzer sounded.
Cameron O'Neil (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) and Kylie Stark (Lynchburg, Va./Brookville) led the 'Cats with 11 points each. Stark also added six rebounds and three steals. Jessica Jennings (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) finished with nine points while also adding five assists. Yanessa Cabrera (Manassas, Va./Stonewall Jackson) led the team with seven rebounds.
Randolph's next matchup will be this Saturday as they travel to Harrisonburg to take on Eastern Mennonite. Game time will be at 2:00 p.m.