Yellow Jackets Outlast Hornets, Move into Semis
Lynchburg’s Strong Start Nearly Holds True
February 23, 2007
Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- The 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Women’s Basketball Championship tournament didn’t wait long to provide drama as top-seeded Randolph-Macon College was put to a test by #8 Lynchburg College.  The Yellow Jackets (22-4) withstood the Hornets (7-19) pressure, drawing out a 70-59 victory to move on to the semifinal round.

The lid was secure on both baskets for the first two-plus minutes of the opening frame but once removed, Lynchburg pushed out to a 14-8 lead at the 14:24 mark.  Randolph-Macon gradually worked itself into a rhythm, forcing the score even several times over the middle part of the frame.  The Jackets went into the break up 10 at 32-22.

Randolph-Macon’s lead hovered around 10 points for much of the first 12 minutes before Lynchburg closed to within five points at 55-50 with 4:07 to play.  The Jackets again righted themselves, pushing their advantage back to 14 points and carrying it through to the final horn.

"That first game for us is always our toughest,” explained Randolph-Macon head coach Carroll LaHaye.  “I’m very proud of our players.  We held our own and maintained our poise and confidence as Lynchburg made those runs.”

Senior Salem Shafer led four Yellow Jackets in double figures with 22 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor.  Sophomores Lindsay Riesbeck and Amanda Hiltunen dropped in 15 and 13 points, respectively, and junior Marta Merkel chipped in 10 points and six assists.

Lynchburg senior post Caroline Wesley led all scorers with a season-high 26 points and 17 rebounds, which tied her top mark for the year.  Freshman Kristina Darby added 13 points and seven assists, and fellow first year player Brittany Dahn put up 10 points with six boards.

Randolph-Macon will play the winner of Bridgewater College and Roanoke College in the first women’s semifinal contest.  That match is set for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, in the Salem Civic Center.

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