For Immediate Release – 1/21/17 - #161
WildCats Play Tough Against Wasps on Senior Day

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College women's basketball team honored its seniors – Korin Harris, Jacqueline Hockman, and Darian Thornton – prior to the game against Emory & Henry College on Saturday.  Despite a late comeback attempt, the Wasps left with a 65-52 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) win.

The beginning of the game featured intense defense on both sides, as neither team scored in the first two minutes.  Thornton had two steals during that time, and Harris broke the deadlock following the second on a fast break.  However, it was answered right away by Megan Jacoby on the other end.  Following an E&H free throw, Taylor Samuels took the lead back at 4-3.  However, the visitors rattled off 13 of the next 16 (Daijah Johnson hit a three).  But Hockman cut the deficit with a late jumper, sending the team down 16-9 into the second.

The Wasps extended the lead over the first three minutes of the second, going up 22-9, but the 'Cats fought back over the remaining time.  Hockman added the first three, before it was answered on the other end.  Points were traded and Emory & Henry pushed the advantage to 29-15, but the WildCats ended the half with eight straight.  The tenacity and defense made it happen.  Harris took a charge, while adding two free throws.  Samuels hit a three, with Hockman and Johnson combining to score the other three, sending the 'Cats into the half down 29-23.

Points were exchanged out of the break, with Harris and Samuels scoring for the WildCats.  But the visitors converted three-straight and-ones and followed it with another layup to go up 44-27.  Harris stopped the run with a basket, but the Wasps scored six of eight (Kalyn Banks hit a layup) to push the margin to 21.  However, Harris and Johnson made back to back layups at the end of the period to bring the deficit to 54-37.

Those late baskets would begin a run, which was highlighted by the play of Banks.  She tallied five of the first seven of the quarter, with teammate Samuels scoring the other two.  The Wasps hit two free throws, but Harris and Banks combined for three points to put the deficit at nine.  However, Jacoby came down and hit a three on the other end, to all but stop the comeback attempt.  Banks and Johnson added baskets down the stretch, but the visitors hit their free throws to seal the win.

Harris led three scorers in double-figures on her senior day, tallying 16.  Samuels added 11, while Banks tied a career-high of 10, with all of them coming in the last 15 minutes of the game.  She added eight boards, which was one behind Harris for the team-high.  Hockman added eight and six. 

Jacoby and Taylor Blevins tied for the game-high of 18 points for the Wasps (12-5 overall, 6-2 ODAC).

Randolph (8-9, 3-5) will conclude its two-game home stand on Wednesday night.  The WildCats host Washington and Lee University (8-8, 4-4), with tip-off coming at 7 p.m.

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