LYNCHBURG, VA – Guilford College, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) preseason pick to win the conference, fired a strong 46.3 percent from the field and 40 percent from downtown in earning a 77-53 victory over the Randolph College women's basketball team in a league tussle from the Randolph Athletics and Dance (RAD) Center Tuesday.

                The hosting WildCats (3-9/1-4 ODAC) scored the first four points of the game on a nice move from sophomore post Megan Russell (Pinnacle, NC/West Stokes) and a put back from junior Brandie Witt (Bedford, VA/Liberty). The Quakers responded with 9-2 run thanks to five points from Jaclyn Nucci, and surged ahead to take a nine-point edge at 19-10 with 9:46 left in the half.

                After a bucket from Randolph made the score 19-12, GC (10-3/4-1) used a 13-3 spurt to take a 17-point advantage, eventually walking into the intermission with a 42-36 lead. Russell led the WildCats in the first stanza with six points, as the WildCats shot a solid 43.5 percent from the floor.

                After the halftime break, Randolph trimmed the Guilford lead down to 13 thanks to back-to-back threes from Abigail Bullins (Asheboro, NC/Asheboro) with a little under nine minute to go, but that was as close as the WildCats would get. Sophomore guard Bonnie Bishop (Fairfax, VA/Trinity Christian) had her best game of the year, notching 11 points off the bench to lead all WildCat scorers. Bishop made five-of-six from the line and two of her three shots from deep.

                Bullins and Emilee Dunton (Forest, VA/Brookville) each had seven points for the WildCats, and Russell finished with six points, five rebounds and a pair of blocks. Brianna Lowry (Herndon, VA/Herndon) added six points and four assists for the 'Cats, who finished 17-of-50 (34 percent) from the floor. The WildCats did shoot well from downtown, making 42.9 percent (6-14) from three-land, also assisting on 13 of the 17 made buckets.

                Guilford put three scorers in double figures, topped by the 15 points from senior guard Brittany Atwater. Atwater made three-of-six from deep, adding five rebounds and four steals. Kayla Adams had 14 points and four assists, while Brittany Drew posted 11 points in 24 minutes. Guilford won the rebounding battle 42-30, and turned the ball over just 11 times in the victory.

                Randolph will play its first road game since December 8 this Saturday, January 12 at 3 p.m. as it heads up I-81 to take on Bridgewater College in more ODAC play.

--RANDOLPH--