For immediate release – 1/25/2016 - #163
Late Run Pushes VWC Past WildCats in Heartbreaker

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – Virginia Wesleyan used a 13-4 run over the final three and a half minutes to overtake the Randolph College women's basketball team 62-57 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play.  The Monday night game, which was rescheduled twice due to weather, was a close game as neither team held a lead larger than seven the whole night.

The 'Cats started quickly, jumping out to a 6-2 lead by the 5:50 mark of the first period.  Korin Harris hit two layups, while Jacqueline Hockman hit a pair from the free throw line.  VWC responded with an 8-1 run, before Taylor Samuels hit a jumper to bring Randolph within one.  With 2:02 left in the period, Lauren Moore knocked down a jumper to give the WildCats a one-point lead.  However, Kasey Grainer and Kelly Jones made back to back threes before the final whistle, putting the Marlins up 16-11 at the end of the first.

Following an opening pair of free throws by VWC, the teams began to exchange baskets.  The Marlins held onto the seven point lead until the 5:05 mark left in the half.  Randolph called a timeout and the break was all the team needed.  In the span of two minutes, Rebecca Harvey,Daijah Johnson, and Samuels combined to tie the game at 24-all.  The defense stepped up in that time, not allowing Virginia Wesleyan to score at all.

But, Grainer hit a three after a Marlin free throw to put the score at 28-24 near the end of the period.  However, Harvey hit another layup right before the horn, cutting the deficit to two entering the half.

Coming out of the intermission, the intensity picked up as several fouls were called quickly on both teams.  Despite the refereeing, VWC pushed its advantage to six after baskets by Crystal Strother and Jaelyn Washington, but it would not last.  Harvey and Hockman made back to back baskets, before Abigail Bullins notched her first points of the game (both coming from the line), tying the score at 32. 

The WildCats then took the lead off of a Samuels' layup.  Harris followed it with one of her own.  Virginia Wesleyan cut the disadvantage to one, but the H-H duo helped extend it once more.  Harris hit a jumper, before Harvey made two layups.  The teams traded points, keeping the lead at seven for Randolph, before the Marlins used a mini-run to cut it to two.  However, Harris hit another layup to give the WildCats a 48-44 lead at the end of the third.

Randolph scored the opener in the fourth as Harris converted a layup off a Harvey pass.  The 'Cats started to struggle to score with almost the entire team playing with four fouls.  Jayla Harris brought the Marlins within one during that time.  Then with 4:33, Samuels hit a jumper, giving Johnson the assist, to put the WildCats up 52-49.

However, it was at this time that Virginia Wesleyan went on its final run.  Bullins hit a three with 1:04 remaining to bring Randolph within one, but the Marlins scored down the other end.  Hockman answered, bringing the 'Cats back within one.  But time ran off as no one wanted to commit a fifth, until Hockman finally fouled out.  Jayla Harris hit the ensuing two free throws and Bullins shot was off target, giving VWC the win.

Harris and Harvey led the WildCats with 14 apiece.  Harvey added five assists and five rebounds.  The 'Cats only had eight turnovers in the game and outshot the hosts by over eight percent.  Jayla Harris finished with a game-high 15 for the Marlins (7-10 overall, 5-4 ODAC).

Randolph (3-14, 1-7) returns home on Wednesday for the start of a two-game homestand.  The WildCats will take on Randolph-Macon College (8-8, 4-4) at 7 p.m.