For Immediate Release – 12/3/16 - #134
Samuels' Layup Gives WildCats Win over Marlins For First Time in 11 Years

LYNCHBURG, VA – Taylor Samuels caught a pass from Daijah Johnson with just over 30 seconds left in the game and made a shot to give the Randolph College women's basketball team a one-point lead over Virginia Wesleyan College.  The WildCats would add another free throw, giving the team a 74-72 Old Dominion Athletic Conference win on Saturday, which was the first time they beat the Marlins since the 2005-2006 season.

The high-scoring game was fast-paced right from the start.  There were no whistles for the first five minutes and a close, 9-8 lead for the 'Cats materialized.  Alexis Calloway, Danielle Rizzari, and Johnson tallied in the run.  After the two teams went back and forth, Samuels made a fast break layup to put the team up 13-12.  Randolph continued to extend the advantage over the remainder of the period.  Samuels added six more points, while Rizzari, Calloway, and Korin Harris combined for five.  The 'Cats took a 24-20 advantage into the second quarter, and it would have been larger had Amanda Gerni not hit a late three.

Gerni came out of the break and hit two-straight from behind the arc.  It was followed by three more points, as the Marlins took a 29-24 lead with 7:03 left in the half.  However, over the next two minutes, Rizzari, Kiana Scott, and Darian Thornton all scored to take it back.

The lead changed hands twice in quick succession after the run, before the WildCats went on another burst.  Randolph scored eight of 10, with Scott pitching in five, including a three.  The 38-33 lead did not last long.  Gerni hit two more three-point shots around a pair from the Marlin line, giving Virginia Wesleyan a 41-38 advantage.  Harris grabbed it back, scoring five straight.  But VWC tied it, putting the score at 43-43 entering the intermission.

Randolph came out of the break strong, posting a 9-3 run over the first four minutes.  Rizzari started it with a three, Hockman added two baskets, and Samuels finished it off with a jumper.  The teams began to exchange points, with the difference remaining around five for the last six minutes of the period.  Camille Gallagher had a big layup to answer a VWC run, while Rizzari scored in the waning seconds to put the team up 63-58 entering the fourth.

It took almost four minutes for either team to make a field goal (the Marlins hit two free throws though) in the final stanza.  However, Gerni was the one who hit a three to tie the score.  After Virginia Wesleyan took the lead, Samuels and Calloway went back-to-back to retake the advantage at 67-65.  But the Marlins answered right away with three points.

However, at 2:32, Thornton was fouled on a shot.  She knocked down two free throws to put Randolph up one.  Harris then converted a tough layup to push the lead even further, but it would not stay that way.  The Marlins scored four-straight, setting up Samuels' heroics.

Samuels made the shot, and Hockman added a late free throw, giving the 'Cats their first win over Virginia Wesleyan as Randolph College (last time it was Randolph-Macon Woman's College).

Samuels had 14 points to lead the way, while Rizzari (12) and Harris (11) both chipped in double-digits as well.  Calloway pitched in nine points and nine rebounds.  Gerni had a career-high 30 points and set the VWC (4-3 overall, 1-1 ODAC) three-point record with 10 in a game.

Randolph (3-3, 1-1) will finish its short homestand on Wednesday.  The WildCats will take on Salem College (2-4) at 7 p.m. in a nonconference matchup.

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