The Basics
Score: Roanoke 80 | Shenandoah 69
Records: Maroons 7-0 / 3-0 ODAC | Hornets 4-3 / 1-3 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va.
The Lead: The Roanoke College women's basketball team welcomed Shenandoah to the Cregger Center. The Hornets made the trip on the opening weekend to compete in the 2021 Jean Beamer Classic and returned to face the Maroons, for the first of two times this season, on Wednesday night. Roanoke scored the first seven points on their way to building a 16-point, first half, lead. Shenandoah finished the half on a 7-0 run to make it 37-28 at the break. The Maroons would see their lead grow to as many as 23 before the Hornets started to mount a comeback. With five minutes remaining on the clock, Shenandoah had cut their deficit to just five points, 68-63. Roanoke would not let their guests get any closer as the Maroons held on for the 80-69 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) win.
How it Happened:
- A pair of Kristina Harrel free throws would cap a 7-0 run to start the game for Roanoke. Renee Alquiza hit her 2nd three-pointer of the opening frame to push the lead to double-digits, 12-2.
- Morgan Micallef pushed the advantage 13 points but a Shenandoah deuce would make it 25-14 after one period of play.
- With 3:13 left before the break, JaBryah Haverkamp scored to make it 37-21, giving RC their largest lead of the first half. However, seven straight points by the Hornets would cut the Maroon lead to 37-28 at the half.
- Roanoke used a 19-5 second half run to push their lead to 23 mid-way through the third quarter. The Hornets responded with a 12-5 run to close the quarter, cutting the RC lead to 64-48 heading into the final 10-minutes of play.
- Sayre Brandstatter hit a pair of free throws to give RC an 18-point cushion but Shenandoah started to hit their shots, scoring nine consecutive points to cut the deficit into single digits, 68-59.
- With a five-point lead, Whitney Hopson hit a jump shot to give RC a 70-63 lead with 2:15 left to play. With :48 seconds to play, the Hornets took a timeout after securing possession via a held ball but could get no closer as Roanoke hit their free throws down the stretch to secure the ODAC victory.
- Harrell had 10 points in the first half giving the senior 1,000 for her career and finished the game with a game-high 22 points to go with four rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Alquiza and Hopson each added 14 points while Brandstatter scored seven to go with seven helpers.
Up next: Roanoke has one more test prior to the exam and holiday break when they travel to Lynchburg on Saturday for a re-match of the 2021 ODAC Championship game. The game with the Hornets is scheduled to tip at 2:00pm.
