For Immediate Release – 1/4/16 - #147
Third-Period Run by W&L Downs WildCats

LEXINGTON, VA – The Randolph College women's basketball team was outscored by 19 in the third period by Washington and Lee University.  Despite a late comeback attempt, the Generals held on for a 65-62 win over the 'Cats in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) contest on Wednesday.

The WildCats jumped out to a lead early in the first period, using a combo of offense and defense.  Korin Harris scored an early layup after catching a pass from Jacqueline Hockman.  Then Daijah Johnson hit a jumper.  After a free throw by the hosts, Kalyn Banks, Johnson, and Danielle Rizzari all scored putting the line at 10-1.  Taylor Samuels stole the ball on the next possession and converted the fast break layup for an 11-point lead with 3:14 left.

W&L responded with a seven-point streak, but the 'Cats defense turned back the momentum in the final seconds.  Banks and Hockman each recorded steals, with Johnson and Hockman finishing off the respective breaks for a 16-8 lead at the end of one.

The beginning of the second period was a story of runs.  After Harris hit a free throw, the Generals tallied eight of 10, which was split by a basket from Darian Thornton.  Following a make from the line by Catherine Hoy, Johnson hit back to back jumpers, including one off of another steal.  Harris then made it 25-16 with 4:01 left after making a layup. 

Action went back and forth over the remaining time.  Emily Perzyk made two shots from the charity stripe with two seconds on the clock to cut the deficit to six.  However, Johnson continued her strong half by sinking a half-court shot at the buzzer, giving Randolph a 30-21 lead going into the intermission.

The next stanza saw points exchanged early.  After a basket by the hosts, Samuels hit a jumper.  Washington and Lee tallied again, but Calloway made a layup.  But the Generals went on the big run shortly after.  Perzyk and Casey Taylor hit two threes during the burst.  Calloway, Rizzari, and Banks all scored in the period, but the W&L would enter the fourth with a 52-42 lead.

Tough defense was on display to start the fourth, as neither team scored in the first two and a half minutes.  Banks got things going, as she grabbed an offensive board and scored on the put back.  Taylor hit a three to put the distance at 11, but Samuels responded with a traditional three-point play to cut things back to eight.  The Generals scored again, but Samuels hit back-to-back shots, bringing the margin to six.

Points were traded again soon after, but Rizzari further shrunk the lead at 3:01 with a layup.  W&L hit one of two from the line, but Harris and Samuels (at 0:48) scored to put the deficit at one (60-59).  Washington and Lee came back and hit three free throws, but Rizarri answered with a shot from behind the arc.  However, Ailyn Kelly hit two more from the line, and Randolph could not answer on the other end, giving the hosts the 65-62 win.

Johnson poured in a career-high of 17 points.  She finished with a double-double, getting 10 rebounds, while also adding six assists in the game.  Samuels added 13 points in the game.  Perzyk had a game-high 23 points for the Generals (6-5 overall, 2-1 ODAC).

Randolph (6-6, 1-2) will return on Saturday for its first home game in a month.  The WildCats host Eastern Mennonite University (6-4, 1-1), with the ODAC clash starting at 2 p.m.

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