Posted: Feb 06, 2009
ASHLAND, Va. --- Roanoke went into Crenshaw Gymnasium and escaped with a 62-60 win at Randolph-Macon on Friday evening. With the win the Maroons improved to 18-2, 14-2 in the ODAC while the Yellow Jackets dropped to 15-5, 12-3 in the ODAC.
The win marks the 34th win in the series and gives Susan Dunagan a 29-28 career edge against R-MC. The road victory tonight marked only the second time in the last 16 meetings that the Maroons defeated the Yellow Jackets. The last win came in Ashland on Dec. 2, 2006 when Maroons defeated then- #22 R-MC, 78-65.
For Randolph-Macon, the first home loss of the season broke an 11-game win streak and puts them second in the latest ODAC Standings. Roanoke avenged their only home loss of the season, a 73-43 loss which was the worst since the 2005-06 season. Five of the last six meetings between the two storied programs have been decided by six points or less.
Roanoke won their 10th-straight and is 18-2, both categories which are the best since the 1996-97 season when they finished 25-3 and won its eighth ODAC Title. The women have avenged both of their losses earlier this season.
The women blistered the nets from deep in the first half, shooting 66.7% (6-of-9) from three-point land and finished 36.8% for the game. They out-rebounded R-MC, 44-41 and held the lead for the majority of the contest. It was the Maroons ninth game of the season with over 40 rebounds and their fifth over the last six games.
Roanoke started the game with a seven-point lead led by a barrage of three-pointers from Erin Jenkins, Caitlyn Long and Lindsay Skaff to make it 19-12 midway through the first half.
Randolph-Macon remained calm and countered back to take its first lead of the game just before the half. A Maggie Roy three and a Lindsay Riesbeck lay-up capped a 16-4 run to make it, 28-23 with less than two minutes remaining. Rebecca Bays hit a three from the corner to end the half with a two-point deficit.
The second half opened with the first four minutes trading baskets as Jordan Gholson scored the first four points for Roanoke. Riesbeck hit two free throws to give R-MC a 32-31 lead with 16:45 remaining.
It would be their last lead of the game as Jenkins hit a jumper to take the lead for good and jumped out to a seven-point advantage. Long hit two free-throws to cap a 13-5 run to make it, 44-37 with 12:23 left.
The Yellow Jackets kept fighting their way back in the game, making it a one-possession game on six occasions over the next 10 minutes. After Long's two made free throws to make it, 61-57, Roy hit another deep range three-pointer from the top of the key put them within one with four-seconds remaining. They had a good look to send the game into overtime as Molly Arial was open, but her jumper was short as the Maroons escaped with a big conference-win on the road.
Roanoke was led by Long with 14 points for the third-straight game along with four rebounds and three assists. She was also 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and 5-of-6 from the line. It was the 11th time in the last 12 games that she has scored in double-figures.
Jaleesa Osborne finished with 13 points for the second-straight game with five assists and four steals. It was her fifth-straight multi-steals game, the longest of the season after snapping her streak of 34-straight games with a steal against Guilford (1/24). She is one assist shy of tying Donna Cogar '92 for eighth all-time at Roanoke with 250 for her career.
Erin Jenkins chipped in 12 points along with five rebounds for her ninth game in double-figures this season. Jordan Gholson had eight points and seven rebounds in addition to three blocked shots. She is only two blocks shy of tying her own single-season record and moving into fourth in career blocks. Bays and Virginia Anne Hagood led the Maroons in rebounding with Gholson with seven each.
Randolph-Macon was led by Lindsay Riesbeck with a game-high 18 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots. Molly Arial had 12 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double along with three blocks while Maggie Roy came off the bench to contribute 11 points including 3-of-4 from three-point range.
The women will take on Virginia Wesleyan tomorrow, Feb. 7 in a big ODAC match-up. The Marlins are 14-5, 11-3 in the ODAC. Roanoke is 35-17 all-time against the Marlins, including two of the last three meetings. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
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