Platt's Career Day Can't Overcome Randolph-Macon

ASHLAND, Va. -- Junior Alexis Platt finished with a career-high 21 points but it was Randolph-Macon who scored the final basket as the Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team fell to the Yellow Jackets 72-71 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action Tuesday.

The win puts both teams at six wins in the ODAC, but the Yellow Jackets hold the tiebreaker over the Marlins due to head-to-head wins in both contests this year. Randolph-Macon is currently the eighth seed in the ODAC standings while the Marlins are in ninth. Seeds five through eight host a first round tournament game while seeds nine through 12 will travel.

The Marlins continued their recent streak of hot starts, jumping out to a 19-14 lead after the first quarter. Randolph-Macon rallied in the second to cut the gap to just one point, 36-35 at halftime, but once again the Marlins outscored R-MC, scoring 12 points in the third quarter against just 10 for the hosts. Platt had 17 of her points in the first three quarters despite battling foul trouble. 

The game was decided late in the fourth quarter as the teams traded the lead with each possession. Virginia Wesleyan led 48-45 heading into the final period, but nine lead changes in the session left the final result in doubt.

The Marlins led the majority of the quarter, taking a 61-56 lead with five minutes to play on a Jaelyn Washington free throw.

Following the media timeout, Khajae Hester scored on a pair of free throws and back-to-back shots from Taylor Intermill and Hester swung the lead to the Yellow Jackets, capping off a 6-0 run in the process with 3:07 to play.

The lead was traded on each possession after the Randolph-Macon run with the Yellow Jackets holding the largest edge at two points, 65-63 with 2:12 to play. The lead was significant in another way as well as it resulted in Platt's fifth foul, meaning the Marlins had to go the final 2:12 with their leading scorer on the evening.

Crystal Strother tied up the contest with a layup before a Hannah Livermon free throw put the hosts back out in front.

Fouls helped both squads after that point as the Marlins went 6-for-6 at the charity stripe while the Yellow Jackets connected on both attempts. The last two Marlin makes came from Strother with 20 seconds left to put the Marlins up 71-70.

Following a timeout that advanced the ball into the front court, Hester ran around a screen and fed Katie Anderson as she rolled to the basket. Anderson converted the layup to put Macon in front 72-71 with eight seconds to play.

Virginia Wesleyan took advantage of the new timeout rules as well, advancing the ball to the front court but a last-second attempt fell shy.

Anderson finished with a game-high 27 points and 15 rebounds for Randolph-Macon (10-11/6-7) while Hannah Livermon contributed 20 points.

Platt finished with a career-high 21 points and seven rebounds for the Marlins as Kelly Jones scored 16 points and Harris, 14.

Virginia Wesleyan (8-13/6-7) hosts Lynchburg College (18-4/11-2) for an ODAC contest Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The Marlins will recognize seniors Kelly Jones, Cassie Conley, and Taylor Wong in a pregame ceremony.