FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - The Randolph College women's basketball team rallied from an 11-point deficit early on to steal a 49-46 road win at Mary Washington that was fueled by a dominant 23-point fourth quarter.
Randolph opened the game after capitalizing on a Mary Washington turnover that led to a jumper from
Taniya Jackson to give the WildCats the first points of the game. UMW responded quickly with a jumper of their own, tying the game at 2-2. The WildCats regained the lead at the 7:39 mark when
Makiah Scott drilled a mid-range jumper, however, UMW answered with a three, giving the Eagles their first lead at 5-4, while extending their lead with a made layup. The WildCats cut into the deficit when Scott drew a foul and hit both free throws to make it 7-6.
There was scoring drought for about a little over a minute for both teams, then an added free throw and a layup pushed the Eagles ahead 10-6. Randolph struggled from behind-the-arc in an attempt to cut into the Eagles' lead but another jumper stretched Mary Washington's lead to 12-6 with two minutes left in the opening quarter. UMW added three more made free throws to close the quarter, 15-6.
The second quarter opened with both teams not being able to convert on their scoring chances. UMW struck first at the 8:07 mark after knocking down a jumper, 17-6. Randolph struggled with back-to-back turnovers, and called a timeout. Out of the break, Minor drew a foul and hit one of two at the line to finally break the scoring drought as well as
Sophia Stevens hitting one of two free throws to make it 17-8.
Mary Washington extended the lead again with a layup inside, followed by a deep three, to stretch the margin to 22-8. After a WildCat timeout, the team came alive when
Maddie Pabon buried a three, 22-11. UMW answered with a layup, but Randolph fought back at the free throw line: Pabon knocked down two, bringing the score to 24-13. Stevens added a free throw as well as Minor added two to trim it to 24-16, to bring the 'Cats within eight.
With less than 15 seconds remaining, Pabon splashed another three bringing the WildCats all the way back within five at 24-19. Randolph closed the quarter on a 9-0 run.
UMW got the third quarter started with a layup, 26-19, but Scott finished at the rim, keeping the deficit within five. Another jumper from the Eagles extended their lead and Randolph could not find their rhythm from the perimeter, while UMW added two free throws to go up 30-21.
Brooklyn Finnerty provided a spark off the bench, knocking down two free throws, and later
Talia Edmond scored inside after a steal from Pabon, trimming the deficit to 33-25. But UMW responded again with a three to push their lead back to double digits. Late in the quarter, both defenses tightened up. Scott added another free throw but the Eagles closed the quarter with a jumper, taking a 35-26 lead into the fourth.
Down nine heading into the fourth quarter, the final 10 minutes turned into a momentum-swimming comeback for the WildCats.
Mary Washington struck first with a jumper and a free throw, pushing their lead to 38-26. Pabon was once again hot from the three-point line, cut into the gap off a pass from Jackson. The Eagles added three free throws to their score line, 41-32. Edmond scored inside, followed by Minor finishing a layup off great ball movement from Stevens, making it 41-36 with over 4 minutes to go.
The WildCats' defense then clamped down, forcing turnovers and controlling the glass. More free throws were added for the Eagles, trying to keep this game in their favor. Edmond responded with one of two free throws, then a jumper from the Eagles, the score at 45-37.
Pabon came up clutch again, knocking down another huge three at the 1:44 mark to close within five, 45-40. Moments later, Scott hit a midrange jumper, and Randolph was suddenly within 45-42. UMW split a pair of free throws at the 48 second mark, setting up a final push.
During the final minute, Edmond grabbed the steal, Stevens pushed the tempo, and Pabon rose up and splashed another three, slicing the deficit to 46-45 with 37 seconds to go. After a defensive stop by Minor's block, Randolph got the ball back. Stevens' jumper rimmed out, but a foul sent Jackson to the line with 10 seconds remaining. She sank both, giving Randolph its first lead since the opening quarter, 47-46. Another foul drawn by Jackson and she buried two more clutch free throws to seal the victory for the 'Cats.
Pabon led the way with 17 points, knocking down five threes, including multiple clutch shots in the comeback. Jackson added nine points, hitting a key three and going a perfect 4-for-4 at the line in the final seconds to seal the win. Scott also scored nine, while Minor anchored the defense with eight rebounds, three blocks, and three steals.
Randolph forced 21 turnovers and turned them into 21 points, overcoming a tough shooting night (28.9% FG) with defense, hustle, and late-game execution, shooting 38.9% from the field and 80% from three in the final quarter.
The WildCats return from the Thanksgiving break when they travel to Bridgewater to open up ODAC play on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
