LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph women's basketball team hosted Ferrum in an ODAC Tournament First Round game on Thursday night at Giles Gymnasium. The Wildcats took a double-digit lead in the first quarter but the Panthers fought their way back and overtook the WildCats as they won by the final score of 65-48.
The WildCats end their season with a final record of 2-7. Ferrum advances to play Bridgewater this Saturday in the quarterfinals.
"Disappointing end to our season," stated head coach Steven Lanpher after the game. "Overall, just so proud that we handled so much adversity this season and we're able to compete."
Randolph fell behind 5-2 early in the first period but used a 15-3 run to go ahead 17-8 with 3:10 left on the clock. The Panthers cut to within six points but six straight points by Madi Tyree (Forest, Va./Brookville) gave the 'Cats a 23-13 lead at the completion of the quarter.
The WildCats led by as much as 11 points, 26-15, at the 8:08 mark of the second quarter. An 11-1 run by FC erased the big Randolph advantage and cut the lead to a point, 27-26, with 31 seconds remaining. Maggie Walton (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic HS) drained a three with time winding down to up the WIldCats lead to four points at halftime. "We came out with great energy in the first quarter but we were missing too many shots from the field and line and allowed Ferrum to cut the lead to four points at the half," said Lanpher.
In the third quarter, Ferrum briefly took a one point lead but Randolph grabbed it back on a three by Cameron O'Neil (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester). The lead switched hands twice in a span of 29 seconds with the Panthers going ahead 40-39 with 1:52 to play in the period. A three by Jordan Ellis with time expiring put the visitors up 43-39 going into the final quarter.
The WildCats were able to close to five points, 48-43, with under seven minutes showing on the game clock. Randolph could not get any closer, however, as Ferrum went on a 17-5 run to close out the game.
"I think our inexperience and first time that have been in the playoffs surfaced tonight," noted Lanpher. "We got tight and it showed down the stretch."
The Panthers were 22-of-56 (39.3%) from the field while the WildCats were 16-of-55 (29.1%) Randolph did slightly better from behind the three-point arc as it was 8-of-22 (36.4%) to Ferrum's 7-of-28 (25%). Both teams had 17 attempts from the free throw line but the Panthers performed better as they were 14-of-17 (82.4%) while the 'Cats were 8-of-17 (47.1%).
The rebounding edge went to Ferrum 44-33. The Panthers led in second chance points 22-13 and points in the paint 26-12.
Stark led the 'Cats with 16 points and five assists. O'Neil added 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting and made 4-of-5 three-point attempts. Tenae Romain (Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate Academy) had a team-best seven rebounds. Playing in her final game as a Wildcat, Elizabeth Ellen (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) finished with four rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
