For Immediate Release – 11/19/16 - #125
Posts Pave the Way in Jean Edge Opening Win for WildCats

ROCKY MOUNT, NC – The Randolph College women's basketball team opened up play at the Jean Edge Classic, hosted by North Carolina Wesleyan College, on Saturday, defeating Methodist University 72-58.  The WildCats had big days from the post players, with Alexis Calloway and Korin Harris both finishing in double-figures.

Lauren Moore got things going for the 'Cats, making a layup six seconds in off a pass from Danielle Rizzari.  Following four straight from the Monarchs, Randolph began to take control of the game.  Harris began it with a pair from the line, with Rizzari knocking down a three 30 seconds later.

Calloway then put together a run of her own, making two tough layups (courtesy of Taylor Samuels and Daijah Johnson).  She then sunk a free throw with 5:07 left in the period, putting the WildCats up 12-4.  However, both teams went cold for three minutes until MU scored seven in-a-row to come within one.  Johnson and Calloway combined for four over the final minute, but it was answered by Shelly McDonald, notching the score at 16-13 at the end of one.

Methodist used that late run as momentum in the second, scoring six-straight points.  But Randolph used another burst to take the advantage back.  Rizzari, Kalyn Banks, Samuels, Calloway, and Kiana Scott all finished during the 10-0 stretch.

But the Monarchs came right back to tie the score at 26 with just under two minutes in the half.  However, Rizzari and Maura McMahon each scored two points to give the WildCats a 30-26 lead at the intermission.

The third period started with more fireworks than in the second.  The Moore-Rizzari combination connected once again, this time with eight seconds off the clock.  Harris then added four points soon after, extending the lead to 10.  The two teams began to trade points, as the difference jumped between seven and 10 until 3:03.  Harris hit a free throw to push it to 11, and Calloway followed her with a layup of her own to make it 52-39.  However, Methodist came back with five points to end the period down 52-44.

In the fourth, Breanna Evans sandwiched a bucket by Darian Thornton, and she cut the deficit to only six by making two layups.  Johnson hit a jumper to bring it back to eight, and following a Methodist free throw, Harris hit two of her own to push it to nine.

Evans would hit another shot from charity stripe, but Harris and Banks combined for six-straight shortly after to push the lead to a commanding 14 points, with only 4:54 remaining.

The Monarchs tried to make it interesting, cutting the deficit to 10 on two occasions, but it would be to no avail.  Calloway and Johnson scored to keep it at 12 both times.  Then Jessica Boney and Jennifer Weigle tallied late to seal the victory.

Calloway recorded her first-career double-double, notching career-highs in points scored (15) and rebounds (14).  Harris added 13 to the total as well.  Kaneya Chambers led the Monarchs (1-1 overall) with 14 points.

Randolph (2-0) will continue play at the Jean Edge Classic on Sunday.  The WildCats play the hosts, NCWC (1-0), at 4 p.m.