ASHLAND, Va. - The WildCats traveled to Ashland, Va. for the quarterfinals of the 2025 Women's Basketball ODAC Tournament. It was a tough battle between the teams, but Randolph-Macon pulled away in the fourth quarter to take home the 63-46 win to advance to the semifinals on Friday in Salem, Va.

"Extremely proud of this team… valiant effort for sure," said head coach Steve Lanpher. "Hats off to Macon they countered by getting some tough scores inside. I thought defensively they picked up their pressure and we had some ill-advised turnovers as well. There is a reason why they are undefeated in conference play!"

R-MC got on the board first in the opening quarter with a driving layup to the basket at 9:19 on the clock, then added another layup to take the early lead, 4-0. However, Renee Clines drained a three-pointer to put the WildCats back within one. The Yellow Jackets quickly responded with a layup to maintain their lead, but converted free throws for Kylie Stark kept the deficit at one. The WildCats took their first lead of the night after a layup from Teniyah Crenshaw-Patterson, the score 7-6, WildCats' advantage. Clines extended that lead with another three-pointer with 4:39 to go. R-MC tied the game at 10-all with two back-to-back scoring opportunities. With less than a minute remaining, Crenshaw-Patterson hit a floating jump shot at the buzzer to cut into the deficit. At the end of the quarter, R-MC led 15-12.

The Yellow Jackets started with a three, 30 seconds into the second quarter, then added another three to push their lead to nine. Simone Brown off her offensive rebound, made the layup to bring the 'Cats within seven with 7:39 to go. Both teams got scoring opportunities to put points on the board, but it was the defensive skills of the WildCats that led to an 8-3 run to close the quarter. At the half, the score was 28-23, Yellow Jackets advantage.

"Coming out of halftime I thought we did a better job defending the 3-point shot and we got some good looks to take the lead," said Lanpher.

It was early buckets for the WildCats with Crenshaw-Patterson quickly putting on an offensive clinic against the Yellow Jackets. She had a 6-0 run to help put the WildCats up by one with 8:08 to go into the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets quickly took the lead back with two layups, score 32-29. Crenshaw-Patterson continued her offensive battle with a driving layup to the basket to keep the WildCats close. Both teams continued to trade points back-and-forth not letting the other get too far ahead. The score was 43-34, the Yellow Jackets lead, to close the quarter.

A 9-0 run for the Yellow Jackets to open the fourth quarter, the score 52-34. The 'Cats got on the board in the fourth with a layup from Brown at 5:20. R-MC responded with a quick bucket to extend their lead and a turn-around jumper to add to it. With 3:26 to go, Stark added three points to cut into the Jackets' lead. The score at 59-39. It was a battle to the end for the 'Cats, however, the Yellow Jackets' defense held firm for a 63-46 victory. 

"Especially proud of Kylie, Tee and Mone who came here 4+ years and turned this program into a consistent ODAC WINNER," said Lanpher. "We made the ODAC TOURNAMENT AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THEIR HARD WORK."

Stark led the way with 16 points and three rebounds. She was a perfect 6-of-6 from the line and 4-of-9 from the field. Crenshaw-Patterson had 15 points and seven rebounds, six defensive. Clines added six points and five steals, going 2-of-4 from the three. 

"Renee is another senior who spent two years with us and was such a scorer and defender in the backcourt," said Lanpher. "Ty was a fifth-year grad student who immersed herself into our program with her work ethic and personality." 

The WildCats shot 34.8% from the field and 60.0% from behind the arc. The Yellow Jackets held the advantage in rebounds with 39 to the WildCats' 27.

The 'Cats conclude their season 12-14 overall and 7-9 in conference.

"This defeat stings, but, the WildCats will continue to be a force in the ODAC!"