For Immediate Release – 1/11/17 - #152
WildCats Second-Half Comeback Comes Up Short in Crosstown Contest

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College women's basketball team made a valiant comeback attempt in the second half on Wednesday night.  However, the 'Cats fell to Lynchburg College 89-79 in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) game.

Both sides started strong, as Korin Harris hit an early layup and was answered by four points from the hosts.  Taylor Samuels responded to that with a three to take the lead back, but seconds later, the Hornets regained the advantage with a layup.  After a home free throw, Danielle Rizzari tied the score at 7-7 with a jumper.  Samuels then had a nice takeaway, and Daijah Johnson converted to bring the lead back to the WildCats.

However, LC then went on a 11-2 run to notch the score at 18-11.  Alexis Calloway stopped it with a jumper, before things would go back and forth over the remaining time.  Jacqueline Hockman added a jumper of her own, but Caroline Naumann hit a layup, making the score 22-15 entering the second.

Rizzari chipped away at the margin right away with a quick three in the second, but Lynchburg came back with another run.  After seven-straight, Harris and Samuels finished tough shots inside to bring Randolph back within seven.  However, at that point, the hosts used a large run to establish a commanding lead.  Calloway was there again to stop it.  She then added five more, including an and-one.  But LC would hit a late three to end the half with a 50-29 advantage.

For the first two minutes of the second half, the two teams went back and forth, but shortly after, Johnson started a run for the 'Cats.  She finished off a traditional three-point play, which was followed by two makes from downtown by Rizzari.  It brought the deficit to 12.  Lynchburg responded with six of the next eight, but Johnson was there to jumpstart another burst with two free throws.  Rizzari followed her again with a three, and brought the score to 60-51 with a jumper.  The Hornets hit two late jumpers, but Hockman sunk one with 12 seconds in the period, bringing the score to 64-53 at the end of three.

The hosts started the fourth with a small run of their own.  LC tallied eight of the first 11, pushing the deficit back to 16.  After an exchange of points, Naumann finished off an and-one to further the lead.  However, it was at this point that Randolph made another push.  Johnson hit a jumper, and Rizzari added a layup.  Naumann scored, but Samuels and Maura McMahon went back-to-back to put the score at 79-68.  Following a three by the Hornets, Johnson, Calloway, and McMahon combined for five points, putting the deficit back in single digits.  But that would be the closest it would get, with the Hornets holding on for the 89-79 win.

Rizzari recorded a career-high of 18 points, leading four in double-figures.  Johnson added 16, with Samuels and Calloway chipping in 15 and 13 respectively.  Johnson also recorded her third double-double of the season, pulling down 10 caroms.  She added three steals, while Calloway had a team-high four.  The team also shot a season-high 53.2 percent from the floor, which ties the fifth-best mark in school history.

Naumann tallied a game-high 20 points for the Hornets (11-3 overall, 5-0 ODAC).

Randolph (6-8, 1-4) will return home this weekend.  The WildCats host the other Hornets in the ODAC, Shenandoah University (4-10, 1-4), on Saturday.  Game time is set for 2 p.m.

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