LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Randolph ended its losing streak in a big way, besting ODAC foe Emory & Henry at the RAD Center today.

After a tremendous start to the season, Randolph (9-8, 3-5) hit the skids when the calendar hit 2014, falling in six straight games to dip to .500 for the first time this year.

Today, the WildCats got back into the win column, pulling the team within one victory of the winningest season in program history, set in 1997-98.

"This was a huge win for us. At the beginning of the season we set our goal to be breaking the program record for wins," senior Emilee Dunton (Forest, Va./Brookville) said.

Dunton had a big say in the victory, leading the WildCats with 13 points.

Randolph was in control early, holding its opponents to just four points over the first 9:35, shutting out Emory & Henry (3-14, 1-7) for a  span of 7:02 early in the game.

A lead of 10 was cut to two just before intermission, but a layup by junior Jensen Hoover (Woodstock, Va./Central) as time expired doubled that edge at halftime.

An 11-2 run gave the Wasps their first lead of the game, growing an edge of 38-34 with 13:28 remaining.

The teams exchanged baskets until a Dunton three off a pass from junior Chelsea Tyler (Richmond, Va./Henrico) put Randolph up for good, 44-43, with 7:33 to go.

Tyler then had back-to-back buckets to grow the lead to five, and Hoover made it seven with a jumper, also assisted by Tyler.

The lead was a tenuous four points when Megan Russell (Pinnacle, N.C./West Stokes) pulled down an offensive board and finished to make the lead six, allowing Randolph to just hit its free throws down the stretch to hold on.

With the WildCats up just four, Dunton hit four straight from the line to earn the victory.

"We've been playing well but haven't been able to close games out, so it was good for us to execute down the stretch, especially defensively," head coach Allison Nichols said after the game. "Hopefully it will give us some momentum heading into February."

The WildCats once again used its home court advantage, in front of a healthy crowd on Alumnae/Alumni Day. The team is now 6-3 in the RAD Center.

Randolph will have a crack at matching that program record for wins as part of a double-header at Guilford on Wednesday.