LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph College Women's Basketball team faced a tough opponent in ODAC play against Bridgewater. The first quarter got out a slow start for the WildCats leading to a victory for the Eagles, 58-37.
"Tough loss against a very very good Bridgewater team," said head coach Lanpher. "I thought we came out a little tight in the first quarter and to compound issues we turned the ball over five times in our first 10 possessions."
It was a scoring drought for both teams in the opening quarter with the first basket coming in at the 6:18 mark for the Eagles to take an early lead. The Eagles extended their lead with 6-0 run before the WildCats ended it to get their first points of the game, score at 8-2, Eagles' advantage. Bridgewater responded with another 9-6 run to close out the first quarter, 17-8. The second quarter, the Eagles opened with an early jumper at 9:42. Both teams put on defensive clinics before another jumper was made at the 7:28 for Bridgewater to extend their lead by 13, 21-8.
Maddie Pabon responded with a three-pointer and the Eagles responded with a 11-0 run for a 28-11 lead. The WildCats picked up offensively with two steals that converted to two layups from
Renee Clines and
Kaileigh Gunter and a jumper from
Kylie Stark The quarter ended with the score 34-17.
"Offensively, Bridgewater did a great job taking away our first options and we struggled to find any rhythm," said Lanpher. "I thought we battled and played better in the 2nd half but we just need to be more consistent."
The first bucket in the third quarter came from Stark with a jumper and three-pointer ro close the gap. The Eagles turned over with a jumper of their own, maintaining a double digit lead over the WildCats with 7:28 to play in the third quarter, 34-22. A layup that converted to an "and one" for
Teniyah Crenshaw-Patterson narrowed the Eagles lead, however, a quick jumper from Bridgewater extended it. The teams were going back-and-forth in scoring baskets to close out the third quarter, with the Eagles leading 44-27.
The fourth quarter saw a layup from Bridgewater at the 9:21 mark, then Clines responded with a jumper as well. There was a four minute scoring drought for both teams until a three-pointer from Clines ended it, the Eagles held a 14-point lead, 46-32, at the 5:15 mark. However, a 12-5 run for the Eagles was enough to hold on and walk away with the victory.
"Really proud of Simone with her season-high of 16 rebounds," said Lanpher. "She has been a dominant force in the paint with her rebounding efforts. Renee had another nice effort off the bench with 11 points and 3 steals."
Off the bench, Clines led the team with 11 points and three steals going 1-3 from the three-point range. Stark added nine points and three rebounds, Pabon had six points and Crenshaw-Patterson had five points and five rebounds.
Simone Brown had a season-high of 16 rebounds to lead the team.
"In a game like this we need to be able to knock down shots," said Lanpher. "Unfortunately we didn't do that today as we struggled shooting only 24%.
We'll regroup and hopefully respond better at our next outing. I wholeheartedly believe in this team! It's never easy so we just have to continue to fight and battle through."
The 'Cats hit the road to Guilford College on Wednesday, Jan 15, for a 5 p.m. tip-off.
