SALEM, Va --- Rebecca Bays (Roanoke, VA, William Byrd)layup with seven-seconds left capped Roanoke's second half comeback to win, 67-66, over Randolph-Macon Thursday evening at the Bast Center. The Maroons improved to 18-2 overall, 15-1 in the ODAC. The Yellow Jackets dropped to 14-5, 12-3 in conference play.

 

Roanoke caught fire in the second stanza, shooting 54.5% from the floor while holding Randolph-Macon to 31% after the Yellow Jackets shot 53.6% in the first half. With the win, the Maroons tied the all-time series against the Yellow Jackets, 34-34. Seven of the last eight meetings have been decided by four points of less.

 

Down 15 points with 19 minutes left in regulation, Roanoke went on a 15-1 run over the next six minutes to cut the Yellow Jackets lead to one. In the ensuing 11 minutes of play, both teams traded buckets. A layup by two-time ODAC Player of the Year Molly Arial made it, 62-58, Randolph-Macon with 2:44 remaining.

 

The Maroons grabbed their first lead since the 16-minute mark in the first half as Caitlyn Long (Roanoke, VA, Cave Spring)drained a three-pointer from the corner to give them a 63-62 lead. On the other end, Nicci Moats (Blue Ridge, VA, Lord Botetourt)blocked a R-MC three-pointer and went coast-to-coast for her team-leading 16^th point of the contest to give Roanoke a three-point advantage with 1:25 left.

 

Randolph-Macon remained poised an answered with a three-pointer from Maggie Roy following a made free throw from Arial to give the Yellow Jackets a 66-65 lead with less than a minute remaining. Then Bays drove in the lane and hit the eventual game-winner with seven seconds remaining.

 

A last second attempt by Jillian Asay fell short as Long pulled down the rebound to end the contest.

 

Moats finished with her fourth double-double performance of the season, scoring 16 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Jordan Gholson (Louisa, VA, Louisa County)had 16 points on 7-of-10 from the floor with five rebounds. Long added 15 points, 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, with five rebounds and three steals. Bays chipped in eight and dished out five assists.

 

Roy led R-MC with 16 points, including 4-of-5 from three-point range and eight rebounds. Arial had 15 points and eight boards. Jennifer O'Briant tossed in 10 counters.

 

The women are off until Saturday, Feb. 13 as they travel to Emory & Henry in ODAC action. The Maroons defeated the Wasps 73-57 on Jan. 26 and have won six of their last seven meetings. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

 

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