VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.- The Randolph women's basketball team took a halftime lead in its game with Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon. The advantage was short-lived the host Marlins pulled away in the second quarter as they won 59-43.

It was a low-scoring contest in the first quarter. The Marlins had a five-point lead at the 4:08 mark but five straight points by Kylie Stark (Lynchburg, Va./Brookville) tied the game at 7-7 with under a minute remaining the period. A jumper by Virginia Wesleyan's S'Zahria Jones to end the stanza put the home team up 9-7.

In the second quarter, the 'Cats took the lead on the second of two free throws by Maggie Walton (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic HS) that put Randolph up 13-12. The Marlins then used a 10-2 run to go up 22-15. The WildCats countered with a 10-2 run of their own to go into the locker room ahead 25-24.

It was a 29-29 game with 8:24 left in the third quarter. Virginia Wesleyan went ahead by six with a little over six minutes to go in the period but the WildCats made it a two-possession game on a jumper by Jasmin Williams (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend). VWU put up a 5-2 run and led 40-33 going into the final quarter of play. The Marlins built up a lead of 14 in the fourth quarter and didn't look back as they came out with the win.

The WildCats did have a couple of positives in the game as they outscored the Marlins 15-12 in points off turnovers and outscored their bench 14-2.  Stark led the team with 22 points to go with seven rebounds, six steals, and four assists. Williams added seven points and four rebounds. Madi Tyree (Forest, Va./Seminole District) pulled down five rebounds and blocked two shots. Cameron O'Neil (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) grabbed seven rebounds and came away with two steals.

"I thought we came out a little sluggish offensively but our zone defense limited Va. Wes" said head coach Steve Lanpher after the game.  "Our full court zone press forced some turnovers and we were able to take a one point lead into halftime.  Kylie stark was spectacular on both ends of the court as she flirted with an untraditional Triple double with 22 pts/ 7 rebounds and 6 steals.  Jasmin Williams came off the bench and provided a spark with 7 points and 4 rebounds."

The WildCats will host Lynchburg this Thursday at Giles Gymnasium. Game time will be at 7:00 p.m. It is Senior Night and the team's Play 4 Kay game.