The Basics
Score: Roanoke 63 | Randolph-Macon 70
Records: Maroons 15-4 / 10-2 ODAC | Yellow Jackets 12-5 / 10-1 ODAC
Location: Ashland, Va.
The Lead: After falling for the first time this season in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play on Wednesday night, the Roanoke College women's basketball team was back on the road for a late afternoon tilt at Randolph Macon on Friday. In a first half that would only see 43 total points, the Maroons would take a 22-21 edge into the break. Roanoke built a nine-point, second half, lead but the final seven minutes would see Randolph-Macon pull even and the game would head into overtime. Roanoke scored first but the Yellow Jackets would score 13 of the next 18 to put the game away and pick up the 70-63 win.
How it Happened:
- Kristina Harrel and Rose Sande scored as the game would be tied at 4-4 in the early stages. After Randolph-Macon built a four-point advantage, Renee Alquiza and Harrel would tie it again with 3:00 to play in the opener.
- After a Yellow Jacket three-pointer, Roanoke closed the first quarter on an 8-2 run to take a 16-13 lead. The Maroons were unable to pull away and after a Morgan Micallef jump shot, RC held a 20-19 edge with 5:00 left before the half.
- Micallef pushed the lead back to three before an RMC hoop would make it 22-21 at the break. The second quarter was tough on both offensive ends of the floor as the two teams combined to go 7-26.
- Randolph-Macon started the second half by scoring six of the first eight points to retake a three-point lead. Roanoke would get an Ayanna Scarborough layup to help spark a Roanoke run. Alquiza hit back-to-back three-pointers as RC went back in front.
- The Yellow Jackets tied it up with 4:52 on the clock but Roanoke would go back in front with a Whitney Hopson free throw. When Micallef scored right before the buzzer, Roanoke had closed the frame with a 10-0 run and took a 42-33 lead into the fourth quarter.
- With 7:15 to play, another Alquiza 3-ball made it 47-38. However, the Yellow Jackets would begin to mount a comeback. The next four minutes would belong to RMC as they tied the game at 50-50 after a 12-3 run. A three-pointer with 2:51 on the clock would put the Jackets back in front but Sayre Brandstatter answered with a three of her own and the game was tied once again.
- After a pair of Macon free throws, Scarborough scored off a Brandstatter feed and with 1:45 to play and the game was tied at 55-55. Coming out of a timeout at the 1:30 mark, Roanoke turned the ball over but the Jackets would be called for traveling as the game entered the final minute. RC was able to drive the lane but the left-handed layup was off the mark and Randolph-Macon secured the rebound and took a timeout.
- Out of the timeout, Harrel knocked the ball away and Hopson picked it up and went in for the layup but was fouled and went to the free throw line. However, both free throws were off target and the Jackets grabbed the rebound with :06 on the clock. RMC got a shot inside but it was off the mark and Scarborough grabbed the rebound to send the game into overtime.
- Brandstatter scored to start the extra frame. RMC hit a three-pointer and after a pair of missed free throws, the Yellow Jackets scored in the paint to take a 60-57 advantage. The lead would grow to five before another Alquiza three-pointer made it 62-60 into the final minute. Consecutive baskets by the home team would see RC in a 66-60 hole with less the 30 seconds to play. The Jackets hit their free throws and Roanoke fell for the second time this week, 70-63.
- Alquiza led the Maroons with 14 while Sande added 12 with Brandstatter and Micallef scoring eight apiece. Scarborough grabbed six rebounds and Hopson handed out eight assists.
Up next: Roanoke will leave Ashland and head east to Virginia Beach for a game with the Marlins on Saturday afternoon.
