For Immediate Release – 12/30/16 - #146
WildCats Late Comeback Comes Up Short at Averett

DANVILLE, VA – The Randolph College women's basketball team cut the deficit to one point with 30 seconds left in the game, but Averett University held on for a 66-62 win on Friday in nonconference action.

The WildCats controlled most of the first half, after starting with an early tie.  Alexis Calloway had four points around two baskets by the Cougars.  Daijah Johnson tied it once again at six, which would be the start of a 13-2 run.  Korin Harris hit a shot from close range, before Calloway made a layup off a pass from Johnson.  Danielle Rizzari then knocked in a pair from the stripe, before Calloway once again scored from the paint.  Following an AU field goal, Lauren Moore and Taylor Samuels finished off the run, putting the score at 17-8 with 2:36 left.

The teams traded points over the final minutes, with Randolph leading 21-16 at the break.  Jacqueline Hockman and Kalyn Banks tallied for the WildCats. 

Banks continued things at the start of the second, but the Cougars answered to bring the margin to two points.  After Johnson hit a pair, Brooke Carthon hit three, bringing the deficit to one.  However, Rizzari caught a pass from Johnson behind the arc, and extended it to 28-24 with 5:14 on the clock.  Both teams would find it difficult to find the bottom of the net over the remaining time.  Harris added a free throw and Johnson scored on a put back, while AU added four points, giving Randolph a 31-28 lead at the half.

Taylor Samuels hit an early jumper for the WildCats, but the Cougars came back with five-straight to tie the score.  The same pattern followed again, as Harris scored this time, before Averett took a 38-35 lead with 5:26 left.  Harris traded points over the next minute, but Carthon scored four in a row, bringing the margin to five.  The teams went back and forth over the final minutes, with Banks hitting a late jumper, putting the score at 49-44 at the end of three.

The 'Cats came out strong in the fourth, as Hockman and Harris hit back to back jumpers.  The teams traded made field goals, with Samuels bringing the team back within one with a layup.  She hit another jumper soon after, but Averett connected twice from behind the arc during that time, pushing the lead back to five.

After the second three, the Cougars hit a free throw and added a jumper to extend the advantage to 60-52 with 4:28 on the clock.  However, over the next minute, the WildCats made a great burst.  Kiana Scott, Moore, and Harris all found the bottom of the net to cut the deficit to two.  AU answered once again, taking a five-point lead, but it would not be over.

Johnson scored with a minute left to bring the score to 63-60.  After the WildCats began to foul, Hockman stole the ball and finished the fast break layup.  However, the team would not get another chance, as the Cougars made their free throws, sealing the win.

Harris posted a double-double for the 'Cats.  She led the team with 13 points, and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.  Alixis Roccia notched a game-high 16 points for the Cougars (7-4 overall).

Randolph (6-5, 1-1 ODAC) will begin the New Year on the road.  However, the team will be back playing in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), as the first game comes at Washington and Lee University (5-5, 1-1) on Wednesday, with tip-off set for 4:30 p.m.

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