Roanoke looks to go into February with a 16-2 mark and remain atop the ODAC Standings after this weekend as they travel to Lynchburg to battle Randolph College on Friday. On Saturday the Maroons take on Hollins at the Bast Center.

 

Roanoke holds a 52-4 all-time series lead over the Wildcats since starting the series in 1983. Before 2003, the Maroons were 40-1, with their only loss to that point in 1997-98. The Maroons swept the Wildcats last season, with both wins by more than 20 points. The Maroons cruised past Randolph, 79-39 at home in the first meeting of last season and 72-49 in Lynchburg on Feb. 21.

 

SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke outlasted Randolph, 61-55 in ODAC Women's Basketball Action Friday evening at the Bast Center. With the win, the Maroons clinched a 6-0 record, tied for the best start in school-history with the 1997-98 team. They remain atop the ODAC standings with a 3-0 mark while the Wildcats dropped to 0-4, 0-2 in the conference.

 

The win improved Roanoke's record against Randolph to 52-4 and has won the last four meetings. It was the closest win margin for the Maroons in the series as they are now 1-4 in the series when the game is decided by six points or less.

 

Jordan Gholson led all scorers with a season-high 24 points including 9-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. She also had five rebounds and a season-high five blocked shots to lead the Maroons. It was the third time that she had at least three blocks or more this season. It was also her second time this season and only the third time in her career that she has scored 20 points or more. Gholson is now 11th all-time in career blocks with 61.

 

The Maroons had a sub-par performance as they shot 36.5% from the floor and 20-percent from beyond the arc. They were outrebounded, 43-37 which led to being outscored 16-10 in second chance points. But they outscored Randolph, 17-8 off turnovers, 34-30 in the paint and 10-6 in fast break points to win their sixth game of the season.

 

With five ties and nine lead changes, neither team could pull away as the largest lead of the game was no higher than nine points.

 

It seemed as Roanoke would pull away early as they jumped out to a 14-6 lead after Virginia Anne Hagood three-pointer, capping a 10-0 run with 12:33 left in the first half.

 

After a jumper by Jaleesa Osborne to make the score, 16-8 at the 10-minute mark, the Wildcats started to chip away at the Roanoke lead. A layup by Katie Rechnitzer put Randolph within two, 25-23 with three minutes left in the half. The Maroons went into the half with a slim 29-26 lead.

 

Randolph would go away in the second half as a Rechnitzer three-pointer with 15:07 left gave the Wildcats their largest lead, 38-35.

 

Randolph continued to keep its lead over the next 10 minutes as the Maroons found themselves in a tight deficit. Both teams would score back-and-forth during that span to keep it close throughout the second half.

 

Roanoke dug deep and got the lead back for good as Caitlyn Long found Gholson open down low for a layup to make it, 51-50. Long then connected on a three-pointer to make it 54-50 with two minutes left to help spark the late, 12-2 run which sealed Roanoke's third ODAC win of the season.

 

Osborne had 12 points, three rebounds, four assists and four steals on the night. She is now six away from tying Erin Hanson '08 for ninth all-time in career steals and needs only five assists to reach 200 for her career. It was the fifth time this season she has reached double-figures.

 

Hagood finished with eight points and a career-best eight rebounds against the Wildcats. Erin Jenkins had five points, six rebounds, a career-high six assists and three steals.

 

Rechnitzer led the Wildcats with 15 points and five rebounds as they had four players in double-figures. Kristen Blalock finished with 12 points and six boards while Lindsay Cross and Sam Schaffstall tossed in 11 points each.

 

The Maroons are 59-2 all-time against Hollins. The 59 wins are the most wins against any team in program history. The women have claimed the last 11 meetings and scored over 100 points three times in the series. The 78-point win last season (102-24) was the largest win margin in school-history.

 

HOLLINS, Va. --- Roanoke defeated Hollins, 92-28 in ODAC women's basketball action this afternoon in the crosstown matchup. With the win, Roanoke improved to 7-0, 4-0 in the ODAC. Hollins dropped to 0-6, 0-2 in the ODAC.

 

With the win, the Maroons have claimed the best start in school-history (7-0) and their 651st win overall for the program. Susan Dunagan is responsible for 522 of those wins. The 4-0 start in ODAC play is the best since the 1997-98 season (10-0). The seven-game win streak is the longest since the 1998-99 season (10).

 

Roanoke now owns a 59-2 series record against Hollins, more wins than against any other team.

 

Virginia Anne Hagood led all scorers with 12 points along with three rebounds to lead four scorers in double figures for Roanoke. Bethany Holland and  Rachel Hawkins each had career-highs of 11 points and six and five rebounds, respectively.

 

Erin Jenkins had 10 points and six rebounds while Cappy Sullenberger finished with career-bests of four points and five rebounds. Paige Gaeng scored the first four points of her career in the win whileRebecca Bays finished with season-bests of nine points, five rebounds and four assists. Jaleesa Osborne had six points, three assists and five steals.

 

Roanoke is 14-2 overall and are atop of the ODAC Standings with a 10-2 mark. The Maroons are winners of five-straight and are off to their best start since the 1996-97 season.  The women have been spectacular on defense this season, ranked 23^rd nationally in scoring defense (52.5 ppg), 38^th in blocked shots (4.5 bog) and sixth in personal fouls per game (12.9). They have been smart with the ball, averaging a 1.0 assist-turnover ratio and 15.9 turnovers per game ranked 16^th and 20^th in the nation respectively.

 

Gholson is the leading scorer (11.9 ppg), rebounder (6.5 rpg) and shot blocker (33) for the Maroons. The team leader in field goal percentage (50.0%) has scored in double-figures 10 times this season, including five of the last six games.  In addition, she has led the team in scoring four times and rebounding in eight games.

 

Osborne is the team's third leading scorer (10.8 ppg), but leads the team in steals (39), free throw percentage (89.2%), and assists (65). She has led the team in scoring seven times this season.  Long leads the Maroons in three-pointers (29), second in scoring (10.9 ppg), steals (30) and third in assists (45). In the last six games, Long has averaged 13.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. In addition, Long is shooting 48.4% from beyond the arc (15-31) during that span.

 

Roanoke, VA -- Four WildCats hit double figures as Randolph College posted a 75-65 ODAC win at Hollins University Sunday afternoon in women's basketball action.  With the win Randolph improves to 2-12 overall and 2-10 in ODAC play. Meanwhile, Hollins drops to 0-16 overall and 0-11 in conference play.

 

The WildCats stormed out to an early 10-2 lead after a jumper from Lindsay Cross at the 16:23 mark of the first half. Randolph's lead would swell to 16 points at 26-10 when Parrisa Samani would drive to the basket for a layup. Randolph would then take a commanding 44-32 lead into the half.

 

In the second stanza, a layup from Cross and a jumper from Michelle Brockman would give Randolph their biggest lead of the game at 56-39 with just under fifteen minutes to play. The WildCats continued their hot shooting, and a Lauren French trey would keep Randolph on top for good with 5:59 remaining at 70-51.

 

Randolph held a decisive advantage on the boards, outrebounding Hollins 43-29 in the game. The WildCats also controled the inside, scoring 30 of their 75 points in the paint. Randolph's bench proved to be a big spark in the game, recording 27 points in the contest.

 

Brockman led the four WildCats in double figures with 14 points and six rebounds. Megan Carney followed with 13 points and four assists. Cross and Samani added 11 points each. The WildCats shot 49.2 percent (29-59) from the field and 35.3 percent (6-17) from behind the arc.

 

Tamara Phillips led the Hollins' attack with 17 points, including three treys. Candace Berra added 16 points, while Jeanette Price contributed 14 points in the loss.

 

Jenkins, a tri-captain of this year's squad, has played in 77 games, starting all 16 games this season.  A long-range threat, Jenkins has connected on 69 three-pointers for her career, and a career-high 25 this season.   She was the MVP of the Guilford Tip-Off Classic Nov. 22 after scoring a career-high 15 points against SUNY-Purchase in a 74-32 win.  Her best games over her career have come against Randolph College, scoring 49 points and pulling down 21 rebounds in seven games against the Wildcats. She has led Roanoke in scoring and rebounding on three occasions this season.

 

Jordan Gholson has recorded 33 blocked shots this season to move up to sixth on the single-season list.  Her 78 career blocked shots has moved her up to fifth on the all-time list. Jaleesa Osborne's 177 steals rank her eighth on the career steals list at Roanoke and needs seven to tie Marcee Hufton '96 for seventh. Her 240 career assists is tied for ninth all-time.  Caitlyn Long's 107 career three-pointers rank her sixth while her 320 three-point attempts are sixth all-time.  Erin Jenkins is one three-pointer shy of entering the top-10 all-time in three-pointers made (69).