SALEM - The Roanoke College women's basketball team is on its longest winning streak since the 2009-10 season, as the Maroons have won six straight games since the start of 2014. Roanoke defeated Randolph College 75-63 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play on Thursday evening.

After the weather-delayed contest, the Maroons now have a record of 8-7, 4-3 in the ODAC, while the WildCats sit with a mark of 8-8, 2-5 in ODAC play. This is the first time the Maroons have been on a six-game win streak since 2009-10, a season where Roanoke went 24-4, as well as advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Paxton Gwin led the Maroons in scoring, netting 22 points on the evening. She shot 7-11 from the floor, as well as hitting 6-7 from the free throw line. Gwin's 22 points leaves her just 13 points shy of becoming the 11^th all-time leading scorer in Roanoke College history, as she is looking to pass Mary Beth Harvey '84 (1,155). Gwin is the reigning ODAC Player of the Week and ranks third in the ODAC in points per game (18.0). She also had the Maroons' lone block of the night.

Jensen Hoover and Emilee Dunton scored the first five points for Randolph, as the WildCats led 5-0 in the first 1:15 of the game. Laurel Hankins scored the first two points for the Maroons on the next possession. The WildCats continued to outscore the Maroons in the opening minutes as Randolph hit what would be its largest lead of the game (11-4) with 15:29 to play in the half. Roanoke spent the next five minutes building a comeback, as Gwin scored seven of Roanoke's next 14 points. Tatum McKee hit a three pointer with 9:25 in the half to take the Maroons first lead of 18-17. In a seven minute span, Roanoke outscored Randolph 17-4, which saw six points each from Hankins and McKee, pulling ahead 35-21. Both teams put up six points each in the final two minutes, as Roanoke held a 41-27 advantage at half.

The Maroons came out of the locker room hot in the second half, getting off to a 12-5 run in the opening four minutes. Laurel Hankins opened with a layup, then Kelsey Smith hit a pair of three-pointers to keep the scoring going for Roanoke. After a Gwin layup, Roanoke led 53-32 with 16:17 left on the clock. At the 10:43 mark Roanoke had gone on another 13-2 run, building what would be its largest lead of the game, 32 points. Roanoke had held Randolph to just seven points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Randolph took the next six minutes to mount an impressive comeback, making a run of their own, through the 4:05 mark, the WildCats had gone on a 18-2 run, pulling within 16, 68-52. Randolph continued to charge, knocking down free throws down the stretch. In the final four minutes of the game, Randolph outscored Roanoke 11-7, but it wasn't enough to close the deficit, as Roanoke won its sixth straight, 75-63.

Tatum McKee was the second highest scorer for the Maroons, tallying 11 points on the night. She finished with four rebounds, four assists and two steals, while also going 4-4 from the free throw line. Laurel Hankins also scored in double digits, netting 10 points, going along with a team-high tying six rebounds. Also with six rebounds were Gwin and Anna Carter. Hannah Ward and Kelsey Smith also finished with eight points each.

Randolph narrowly outshot the Maroons 40.8 to 39.7 percent from the field, while the Maroons held the advantage on rebounds 45-32. The Maroons had 21 offensive rebounds to the WildCats' seven.

The Maroons return to action on Saturday, January 25^th as they play host to Randolph-Macon College. That game is a part of Maroon Madness, which will be a double-header of men's and women's basketball against Randolph-Macon. During the games, there will be contests, raffles, prizes and other fun activities. Be sure to come out and support the Maroons!


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