Defense Keys Rally in 91-82 Win at Randolph-Macon
ASHLAND, Va. – The Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team overcame an 18-point second quarter deficit to defeat Randolph-Macon College 91-82 Tuesday in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action.
Randolph-Macon received a layup by Kelly Williams to take a 39-21 lead with 6:07 to go in the second quarter.
Virginia Wesleyan began its rally at that point, cutting the Yellow Jacket advantage to just 10 points, 42-32, as the horn sounded for halftime. That 11-3 run was spurred on by four points from Raya Berkley and three each from Jayla Harris and Alexis Platt.
The Marlin run continued into the second half as VWC outscored Randolph-Macon 27-16 in the period. Virginia Wesleyan shot 47.4% from the floor in the third quarter while posting a 50% mark from beyond the arc and a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe in the period.
The Virginia Wesleyan defense did an outstanding job to steal the lead back from the Yellow Jackets, holding the hosts without a made three-pointer in the third, forcing five turnovers while not committing one on the other end.
Randolph-Macon's final lead of the game occurred with 24 seconds left in the third as Taylor Intermill connected on a pair of free throws for a 58-56 lead.
Harris responded on the other end of the floor, connecting on a trifecta off a NiAsia Caldwell assist, to take a 59-58 lead with three seconds to play. That momentum carried into the fourth as VWC went on a 6-1 run to start the quarter, garnering a 65-59 lead with 8:04 to play.
Randolph-Macon cut the deficit to within three at 65-62, but could get no closer the rest of the way.
The Marlins pulled away down the stretch, going 12-of-14 (85.7%) at the charity stripe in the fourth quarter. The defense continued to press the Yellow Jackets, forcing five more turnovers in the period.
In total, the Marlins committed just one turnover in the second half while forcing 10, a huge reason for the second-half rally.
Amber Lee led Randolph-Macon (8-5/3-2) with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Williams also contributed a double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Harris led all scorers with 32 points, her third 30-point performance of the season. Berkley had a career day, finishing with a career-high 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Caldwell added 13 points while Platt posted 10 off the bench.
Virginia Wesleyan (8-5/3-2) hosts Hollins University (4-8/0-4) on Saturday at 2 p.m. The women's basketball program will retire the jersey of Nancy Kelly '15 in a pregame ceremony. Kelly passed away in a car accident and the program will use this ceremony as a way to celebrate her life and legacy she left within the program.