For immediate release – 2/18/2016 - #195
WildCats Battle but LC Second Period Too Much

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College women's basketball team pushed the top team in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) all night, but Lynchburg College outscored the WildCats by 11 points in the second period on the way to a 67-55 win on Thursday night.  The game, which was supposed to be played on Wednesday, was rescheduled due to snow.

The 'Cats started the game off strong.  Jacqueline Hockman scored the first basket of the game before the two teams went back and forth.  After being tied at four-all, Abigail Bullins made a nice move, before Hockman scored on a fast break off a Daijah Johnson steal.  Rebecca Harvey then put Randolph up 10-4 less than four minutes in with a layup.

The Hornets scored the next five to cut the deficit to one, but Hockman extended it to three.  Following four straight points by Charmaine Hairston, Darian Thornton retook the lead for Randolph.  Molly Shepherd scored for Lynchburg with 1:01 remaining in the period to take a 15-14 lead going into the second.

Both teams struggled to get on the board early in the second, but Chaney Forbush started the big period for LC at 8:18 with a pair from the stripe.  After hitting another, Taylor Samuels scored on a fast break after a Hockman steal.  However, the Hornets scored seven of the next nine, with Alexis Calloway keeping it close.  Brie Holdren followed the run to cut the disadvantage to five, but Lynchburg responded with an 8-2 burst to push the visitors lead to 11.

The two teams battled over the final minutes, but LC went into the half with a 39-27 lead.

Lynchburg came out aggressively in the third, tallying seven of nine, with Harvey knocking down two from the stripe.  Following that Hornet spurt, the post players for Randolph took over.  Harvey hit a jumper, before Korin Harris followed suit with two of her own baskets.  Sarah Coronel broke the run with a jumper, but Calloway added two from the line before Harvey and Harris worked together to cut the deficit to seven.  However, the visitors hit three free throws to lead 51-41 at the end of the third.

In the fourth, the 'Cats made another push following a Hairston three.  The three posts combined for five points to cut it once again to single-digits.  Coronel hit a clutch jumper, but Samuels knocked down a shot from deep to bring the score to 56-49 with 7:09 remaining.  The teams traded points, over the next four minutes, as Randolph trailed by seven with 4:21 left.  Unfortunately, the Hornets went on one last run to seal the victory.

Harvey led the WildCats with 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds.  Harris also finished in double-figures with 10 points.  Hockman tallied eight points, three blocks, three steals, and six boards.  Hairston tallied a game-high 19 points for the Hornets (20-4 overall, 13-2 ODAC), while Forbush and Coronel each added 13. 

Randolph (4-20, 2-13) finishes its regular season on Saturday.  The WildCats host Shenandoah University (6-18, 3-12) in the second game of a basketball doubleheader at 4:30 p.m.  Bullins will be honored prior to tipoff, as it will be Senior Day for both teams.

###