LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Randolph women's basketball team hosted No. 22 nationally ranked Randolph-Macon on Saturday afternoon. The WildCats fell, 52-59. short in a close battle against the Yellow Jackets. 

"Tough one to swallow today," said head coach Steve Lanpher. "So proud of our kids' effort and fight. Defensively, we took R-MC out of their rhythm. Offensively we tried to control the tempo and we did that for the most part!"

The WildCats are now 10-12, 5-8 in ODAC, and the Yellow Jackets improve 20-1, 12-0 in ODAC. 

R-MC opened up the scoring early for the Yellow Jackets at 9:48. The WildCats got on the board at 7:44 after a free throw made by Kylie Stark. The teams battled offensively, trading points back and forth, being tied at 6-all with 5:25 to go. The Yellow Jackets took the lead with a layup and a made free throw, however, Stark drained a three-pointer to tie the score once again. Another layup from the Yellow Jackets to take the lead but the WildCats were not backing down when Teniyah Crenshaw-Patterson made a jumper, to even the score. The quarter ended tied 13-all.

A slow start from both teams in the second, until a pair of converted free throws pushed R-MC into the lead by two. However, the score was even once more with a jumper from Renee Clines. The Yellow Jackets then went on a 6-0 run for the lead, 21-15, but a three-pointer from Stark put the deficit at three. The teams continued battling offensively with made three-pointers and layups as the minutes wound down. It was 24-23 going into halftime, Randolph's advantage.

"I thought mid-way through the third period we started to control the game," said Lanpher. "We had some unfortunate turnovers that allowed them to get even with us." 

Out of the half, the Wildcats went on a 7-4 run to lead by six, 33-27 but was quickly cut in half with a Yellow Jacket three-pointer on the other end. Neither team let the other stray too far for the rest of the quarter. The score tied at 38-all with less than a minute to go, the Yellow Jackets hit a buzzer-beater to lead by two. Entering the final quarter, the teams were battling, tying the game four times. However, at 2:24, R-MC began to pull away going on a 9-2 run to walk away with the win.

"The fourth quarter was a battle but the difference came down to a couple of unforced turnovers where we didn't capitalize," said Lanpher. "Kylie was outstanding today as she carried us on the offensive side and I though Simone was such presence."

Stark led the way with 27 points shooting 9-of-17 from the field and, 4-of-7 from the three and 5-of-6 from the line. Crenshaw-Patterson added seven points and five rebounds. Maddie Pabon contributed six points, Clines had five points, and Simone Brown had four points and eight rebounds.

As a team, they were very efficient from the free-throw line, shooting 83.3%. From the field, the WildCats were 39.6% and behind the arc at 36.0%. The Yellow Jackets outrebounded the WildCats 33-25.

"We are fighting for our playoff lives with three games remaining so we have to remain confident and positive," said Lanpher. "We've played back-to-back nationally ranked opponents to the end so we have to appreciate that and just play with a little more poise and resilience. 

I truly believe we are going to do something special soon!"

The Cats' are back home on Saturday when they host Guilford at Giles Gymnasium at 4:30 p.m.