ASHLAND, Va. --- Roanoke rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to take the lead, but couldn't hold on as Randolph-Macon won, 55-51 at Crenshaw Gym Friday evening. The Maroons dropped to 8-2, 5-1 in the ODAC while the Yellow Jackets improved to 7-2, 5-1 in conference play.

 

Roanoke shot a dismal shooting night, 30.8% from the floor in addition to 53.8% from the line. They were also outrebounded, 47-39 for only the second time this season, dropping the first conference and road game of the year.

 

Both teams battled early in the first half, trading baskets over the first 12 minutes of play. A made basket by Jordan Gholson (Louisa, VA, Louisa County)off an assist from Nicci Moats (Blue Ridge, VA, Lord Botetourt)made it 15-13 with 8:16 left in the half.

 

That's when pre-season All-American candidate Molly Arial took over, outscoring the Maroons, 17-7 to end the half with a 30-22 lead. The Yellow Jackets, thanks to Arial, went on a 15-3 run in a five minute span and took a game-high 10-point lead just before halftime.

 

Roanoke came out strong to start the second half, outscoring R-MC 12-6, which included back-to-back three-pointers by Rebecca Bays (Roanoke, VA, William Byrd)to help cut the lead to within two, 36-34 with 14 minutes left in regulation. Roanoke battled back to take the lead with four clutch free-throws by Moats and Kendra Porter (Jamestown, NC, Dudley)breakaway layup off a steal to give the Maroons their first lead since the 8-minute mark in the first half, 51-50 with 1:59 remaining.

 

The Yellow Jackets responded in a big way as Jennifer O'Briant hit a three-pointer with 1:05 to go to regain the lead, 53-51. A missed layup by Porter forced the Maroons to foul as Bays committed the foul and sent Maggie Roy to the line. She calmly sank both free-throws and sealed R-MC's seventh victory of the season.

 

Caitlyn Long (Roanoke, VA, Cave Spring)led the Maroons in scoring for the fourth time this season with 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds. She is now just 33 points away from becoming Roanoke's 15^th player in its 40-year history to eclipse 1,000. Moats narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points (all in the second half) and a team-high nine rebounds, six in the second half. It is the third-straight game and the sixth time in 10 games that Moats has led the team in the rebounding column. 

 

Gholson finished with six points, five rebounds and a season-best six blocked shots. Her 136 career blocks is now only five shy of breaking the school-record. Jaleesa Osborne (Ordinary, VA, Gloucester)added eight points and dished out four assists. Porter scored eight points along with three caroms and two steals off the bench.

 

Arial, the reigning Two-time ODAC Player of the Year, had an outstanding night with 29 points on 12-of-17 shooting along with 10 rebounds to lead Randolph-Macon. Maggie Roy added nine points while teammate Renee Stein pulled down seven boards for the Yellow Jackets.

 

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