HARRISONBURG, Va.- The Randolph women's basketball team traveled to Eastern Mennonite on Saturday in search of its first conference win. Yanessa Cabrera (Manassas, Va./Stonewall Jackson) forced overtime and then scored three points in the extra period to lead the WildCats to a 65-62 victory.

Randolph's record improves to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Royals drop to 1-7 and 0-3 in the conference.

The WildCats led 18-15 at the end of the first quarter. Audrey Antesberger (Scottsville, Va./St. Anne's Belfied) scored all eight of her points in the frame to help Randolph get ahead.

The Randolph lead went up to nine points, 30-21, thanks to a 12-6 run to begin the second quarter. The Royals got to within four points of tying, 32-28, with 4:10 to play in the frame but the 'Cats used a 6-0 run to close out the quarter and go up 38-28 at the break.

The third quarter was a different story as Eastern Mennonite rallied with a 11-0 run to take its first lead of the afternoon, 39-38, at the 5:19 mark. The WildCats ended their drought with a Cameron O'Neil (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) jump shot to go back ahead 40-39. The lead changed hands six times as the WildCats led 46-45 heading into the final quarter of play.

In the fourth period, the lead changed twice. Lanaysia Gonzalez's (Richmond, Va./Goochland) jumper at 9:03 put Randolph ahead 48-47. The 'Cats saw their lead go to four points, 54-40, with 4:38 remaining in regulation. A 6-0 EMU run had the home team up 57-54 and looking to close out the game. A foul on Cabrera with 11 ticks left put her on the charity stripe and she made both baskets. Cabrera then fouled EMU's Jade Payton which put her on the line. Payton made the first but missed the second attempt. Kalyn Banks (Clinton, Md./From the Heart Christian School) picked up the rebound and got the ball out to Cabrera who sank the game-tying basket with time expiring to send the game into an extra period.

 In overtime, Cabrera went to the foul line four times and converted three of her attempts to put Randolph up 61-58. A Banks' jumper gave the WildCats a 63-58 advantage and a lead that would not be relinquished. EMU inbounded the ball with two seconds left but Cabrera forced a turnover to ice the game for the WildCats.

Cabrera scored 15 points and was 9-of-12 from the free throw line. She also dished out six assists and came away with five steals. Banks added 11 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Gonzalez finished with nine points as did O'Neil.

"Great team win for us today" said head coach Steve Lanpher after the game.  We came out with a great amount of focus and energy in the first half. Our youth surfaced a bit in the 3rd quarter with miscues and fouls.  We regrouped in the 4th and Yanessa hit a huge bucket to send the game in overtime.  I thought we executed well on offense especially in the overtime session." 

The Royals committed 15 turnovers which the WildCats turned into 12 points. Eastern Mennonite controlled the glass 50-43 with both teams coming away with 17 offensive rebounds.

Randolph hosts Regent on Thursday in its final game of 2019. Game time will be at 5:00 p.m.