Yellow Jackets Upend Maroons, Earn Spot in Finals
Hot Second Half Keys Victory
February 24, 2007
Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- Randolph-Macon College made a mid-second half surge hold up on Saturday evening, defeating Roanoke College 76-72 in the first semifinal of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Women’s Basketball Championship tournament.  The Yellow Jackets (23-4) move on to their fifth straight conference title game.  A victory would make RMC only the second team to win the women’s crown for three straight seasons.  The Maroons bow out with a 16-11 overall record.

The Jackets came out of the box quick, moving out 9-2 just over three minutes in.  Roanoke made its move just past the midpoint of the half, grabbing its first lead at 19-17 with 9:24 on the clock.  The two foes jockeyed the lead back and forth for several minutes until the Maroons ended with a bit of a spurt to go into the half.

Roanoke’s lead hovered in low single digits for about five minutes before Randolph-Macon went on a mini-run and retook the lead 50-47 on a three-pointer by Salem Shafer with 12:46 to play.  The Maroons returned the favor and went briefly ahead by four, but Marta Merkel’s two foul shots with 4:48 to play tied the score for the 10^th and final time.  RMC went ahead for good on its next possession via a Molly Ariail lay-up.

“Many people didn’t think we would be here,” said Randolph-Macon head coach Carroll LaHaye.  “It was a hard fought contest and that is what it’s supposed to be in the semifinals.  I am really happy with the way our kids played down the stretch.” 

Arial led the Jackets with 20 points and 11 rebounds for her first postseason double-double, the ninth of her season.  Shafer and sophomore Lindsay Riesbeck each chipped in 15.  Riesbeck also added five rebounds.

Roanoke’s Caitlyn Long led all scorers with 26 points, hitting 3-of-6 from deep.  Junior Erin Hanson chipped in 17 points to go with four rebounds, and freshman Jeleesa Osborne added nine points and three assists.

Randolph-Macon will play the winner of Washington & Lee and Virginia Wesleyan in the women’s final.  That game is set for Sunday, February 25, at 3:30 p.m. in the Salem Civic Center.

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