LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Randolph College women's basketball team hosted nationally ranked #21 and ODAC rival Washington & Lee for a mid-week game. The game was a tightly contested battle, but it was the Generals closing out a hard-fought contest with a 70-61 victory.

Randolph now is 10-11, 5-7 ODAC and W&L improves to 18-3, 10-2 ODAC.

"I'm not into moral victories but I thought it was a valiant effort from our team tonight," said head coach Steve Lanpher. "I loved our fight and effort as a team!"

The first field goal of the game came from a layup from Renee Clines at the 7:59 minute mark to lead early for the WildCats. The Generals quickly responded with a jumper to even the score. From there, both teams traded points back-and-forth, the score deficit not wavering too far. The first quarter ended 12-11, Generals' advantage.

 In the second quarter, Randolph and W&L traded baskets in a tightly contested stretch of play. An early layup from W&L pushed the Generals' lead, but on the other end, Renee Clines responded with a layup for the WildCats. A few missed shots from both teams, but W&L further increased their lead to 16-13. However, Clines stayed hot, sinking a jumper and then knocking down a three-pointer to pull Randolph within one with 6:41 remaining. As W&L tried to maintain their advantage, the WildCats kept answering. After a basket from W&L they went up 19-15, Clines hit another three to make it 19-18. The teams continued to trade baskets, with Clines giving Randolph the lead at 22-21. W&L briefly regained control with a jumper but a three-pointer by Kylie Stark pushed Randolph ahead 25-23. W&L immediately responded with a three of her own, setting up an intense final minute. Trailing 28-25, W&L found an answer in the closing moments. With just five seconds left, Ravyn Gill drained a clutch three-pointer off a pass from Stark to tie the game at 28 heading into the next period.

"I thought going in that two-pointers weren't going to be us....I thought if we limited them to three three-pointers or less we would win," said Lanpher. "Unfortunately, we had some missed assignments in the third quarter and they took advantage of it with four three-pointers in that quarter. We battled back a couple of times to five-point deficit but couldn't get over the hump."

Early on, W&L made an immediate impact, scoring back-to-back layups, including a fastbreak bucket, to give W&L a 32-28 lead.The Generals extended the lead with a three-pointer, but the WildCats responded with a clutch triple from Clines to keep it close at 35-31. Taniya Jackson and Teniyah Crenshaw-Patterson helped Randolph chip away, cutting the deficit to just two points at 35-33. However, an answer from W&L, pushed their lead to 40-35. Both teams continued trading baskets, with Simone Brown and Jackson scoring in the paint for Randolph, but W&L kept ahead. Crenshaw-Patterson led Randolph's response, hitting multiple jumpers to keep her team within striking distance. A pair of free throws from Clines brought the 'Cats within five, 50-45, but W&L continued to find answers.

In the final quarter, W&L quickly capitalized on a turnover, extending their lead to 56-47 with a jumper by Crenshaw-Patterson. The Generals responded immediately with a bucket to go up by 11, but Crenshaw-Patterson answered with a clutch three-pointer to cut the deficit to eight. A series of missed shots and turnovers followed for both teams, with Randolph battling on the boards but unable to convert. With 5:48 remaining, Kylie Stark stepped up, knocking down two free throws to bring the WildCats within six at 58-52.

W&L maintained their composure, as they scored inside to push the lead back to eight. However, Randolph fought back with a fastbreak three-pointer from Clines to cut the margin to five with 3:35 to go. Moments later, the Generals drained a three-pointer keeping them in control at 63-55. The WildCats refused to back down, as Clines hit another triple with under two minutes to go, narrowing the gap to 66-58. A steal by Clines led to a fastbreak layup by Taniya Jackson, bringing the WildCats within six with 1:38 left. Despite a late push from the 'Cats, W&L secured the win with key free throws and a layup in the final seconds.

"Renee was fabulous on the offensive end," said Lanpher. "I thought Tee played a great overall game with 14 points and seven rebounds." 

The WildCats shot 32.4% from the field, 26.9% from behind-the-arc and were efficient from the line shooting 76.9%. The Generals out-rebounded the WildCats 49-28. Clines led the team with season-high 25 points, shooting 9-of-16 from the field and 4-of-6 from three. Crenshaw-Patterson added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Stark contributed 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. Simone Brown grabbed seven rebounds to go along with four points.

"It's disappointing coming up short, but we've got to pick ourselves up and get ready for another nationally ranked team in Randolph Macon," said Lanpher. "We have what it takes to make a late push. It's just about us executing more consistently and trusting each other!!!"  

The 'Cats are back on the court, Saturday, when they take on No. 22 Randolph-Macon in Giles Gymnasium at 2 p.m.