SALEM, Va. - Three student-athletes from the Randolph College women's basketball team notched double figure points to help the WildCats to a hard fought 63-57 win over host Salem College on Thursday night.
Randolph was dominant in the opening period as the WildCats stormed ahead to a 21-8 margin and were able to maintain their advantage, extending their lead to 34-20 at the conclusion of the second quarter.
Coming out of halftime, Randolph pushed its lead to 41-24 with 7:28 remaining in the third period but Salem began to slowly climb its way out of the point gap, knocking out a 19-5 run which brought the Spirits within three of the WildCats (46-43). Despite Randolph's best efforts to charge ahead, Salem would trail, 48-43, heading into the fourth quarter.
The WildCats maintained a slight edge over the Spirits throughout most of the final period but would eventually relinquish the lead at the 2:31 mark as Salem connected on a jumper to place them ahead, 54-53. However, Randolph would not be deterred as the WildCats leveled the score to 54-all off of a made free throw by Taylor Samuels (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) before three consecutive points placed Randolph out front with a 57-54 edge.
As time ran down on the fourth period, the WildCats pushed an 8-3 run to secure the final 63-57 tally and take home their third win for the season.
Randolph shot 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the field and 65.2 percent (15-of-23) from the foul line while limiting the Spirits to a 33.9 field goal percentage (21-of-62), holding a 48-27 edge in rebounds and recording 15 second chance points.
Kalyn Banks (Clinton, Md./From The Heart Christian School) and Alexis Calloway (Williamsburg, Va./Bruton) each notched a double-double for the night with Banks recording 18 points and 11 rebounds while Calloway posted 12 points and 13 rebounds. Maura McMahon (Blacksburg, Va./Blacksburg) also recorded double figure points, concluding the night with 16 points, shooting 5-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe. Daijah Johnson (Beltsville, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) pulled down 12 boards to go along with five assists while Samuels also notched five assists and added two steals.
Randolph improves to 3-3 overall and will now look for its first Old Dominion Athletic Conference win as the WildCats travel to Shenandoah University on Monday, Dec. 4 for a 7 p.m. contest with the host Hornets.