DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. –The Randolph women's basketball team played the first of two games during their stay in Florida at the Daytona Beach Shootout on Tuesday. The WildCats controlled the game from the beginning as they defeated Stevenson 64-44.
Randolph improves its overall record to 10-2 on the season and runs its winning streak to eight games. It is the team's longest such streak since the 2014-15 season.
The two teams were neck and neck throughout the first quarter. The game was tied 8-8 with 2:42 remaining in the period. Jessica Jennings (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) converted a layup with 1:32 remaining to put the 'Cats ahead 10-8. After she was fouled trying to attempt a three-point shot, Jennings converted all three free throws as the WildCats led 13-8.
The Mustangs would keep pace with Randolph early on in the second quarter as the WildCat lead was 15-13 at the 7:13 mark of the period. A 14-3 run by the 'Cats to end the stanza gave Randolph a 29-16 advantage at halftime. The WildCat defense held Stevenson to 0-for-8 for the field in the last 5:08 of the period.
The Mustangs scored the first basket of the third quarter and cut the WildCat lead to 10 points with 7:47 showing on the game clock. Randolph went on a 9-4 run to jump ahead 40-25 with 1:29 left. The WildCats would go on to lead 44-27 at the end of the quarter.
Stevenson was able to trim the Randolph lead to 11 points, 48-37, with 7:03 to play in the game. That would be as close as the Mustangs would get as the WildCats used a 16-7 run take a commanding lead and run away with the game.
"Really nice collective effort today," said head coach Steve Lanpher. "I thought we really took care of the basketball and although we struggled shooting the ball early, we found our rhythm. Defensively, we controlled the tempo and made Stevenson take tough shots."
Overall, Randolph was 23-of-63 (36.5%) from the floor and shot 5-of-19 (26.3%) from behind the three-point arc. Stevenson went 15-of-54 (27.8%) but was just 4-of-26 (15.4%) in three-point attempts. The WildCats took advantage of 22 Mustang turnovers and scored 19 points off of the miscues. Randolph controlled the paint with a 28-18 advantage. The WildCats had a 44-40 edge in rebounds.
Jennings finished with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, dished out five assists, and pulled down four rebounds. Cameron O'Neil (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) also had 14 points as she was 5-of-12 and grabbed four rebounds. Kylie Stark (Lynchburg, Va./Brookville) added 12 points, seven rebounds, and four steals.
"Jess Jennings was really good off the bench sparking us with 14 points and five assists," noted Lanpher. "Collectively our posts (Nadia/Mo/Abbie) did a nice job controlling the paint defensively with 12 rebounds and 10 points. Offensively, we did a nice job attacking the paint and making great decisions and playing unselfishly."
Randolph will finish its trip on Thursday as it faces Maryville. Game time is slated for 3:00 p.m.
