FERRUM, Va.- The Randolph women's basketball team returned to the hardwood for the first time in 2023 as they traveled to Ferrum on Wednesday. The WildCats trailed after the first quarter but recovered as they went on to win 71-49.
Randolph improves to 12-2 overall which is the best start in program history. The WildCats are now 6-1 in ODAC play.
After scoring the game's first points on a three by Kylie Stark (Lynchburg, Va./Brookville), Randolph struggled as the Panthers went on a 16-3 run to lead 16-6 with 2:41 remaining in the first period. Ferrum led by as much as 11 points, 19-8.
Ferrum got ahead to as much as 12 points, 26-14, with under six minutes to play in the second quarter. The WildCats began to chip away as they used a 14-5 run to close out the period and trail only by three points, 31-28, at halftime. Natalie Clark (Chesapeake, Va./Indian River) had eight of Randolph's points during the run.
In the third quarter, the 'Cats started off on a 7-0 run to go up 35-31. It was part of a bigger 17-5 run that gave Randolph a 45-36 advantage with 3:17 remaining in the quarter. The Panthers closed to five points with 1:30 showing on the clock but back-to-back layups by Simone Brown (Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor) staked the WildCats to a 52-43 lead at the conclusion of the period.
It was all WildCats in the fourth quarter as the team started with a 15-2 run to break the game open and lead 67-45. In all, Randolph outscored Ferrum 19-6 in the quarter.
"Ferrum came out really aggressive and I thought we came out a little flat in the first quarter," said head coach Steve Lanpher. "Really proud of our resilience and how we stayed positive and together when were struggling."
Overall, Randolph was 25-of-50 (50%) from the floor. The WildCats had a strong second half as they shot 7-of-10 (70%) in the third quarter and 8-of-13 (61.5%) in the fourth quarter. The team's three-point shooting was solid as it was 11-of-24 (45.8%).
Both teams had 27 rebounds. Randolph had a 22-13 advantage in points off turnovers and 26-12 lead in the paint.
Stark scored a season-high 23 points on 6-of-10 shooting and added seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Jessica Jennings (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) chipped in 12 points and six assists. Clark and Cameron O'Neil (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) both finished with eight points each.
"Natalie Clark provided a great spark in the second quarter and offensively we became more aggressive," noted Lanpher. "We exerted our will defensively in the third and fourth really pressuring their shooters and taking care of the boards. Offensively, we attacked the paint and played inside/out which allowed us to get clean looks for scores. Kylie took over the game in the second half and showed her dominance. Nice minutes from Taniya Jackson and Jess was huge on both ends of the floor."
Randolph returns home to host Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday. Game time will be at 2:00 p.m.