Ariail and O’Briant Send the Yellow Jackets Past Roanoke 55-51

ASHLAND, VA-Jennifer O'Briant's three pointer with 1:05 left in the game put Randolph-Macon up for good against ODAC rival Roanoke College Friday night. R-MC Senior Molly Ariail poured in 29 points and 10 rebounds in the 55-51 victory over RC.

The first 12 minutes of the game saw seven lead changes and four ties as both teams battled in a back and forth defensive struggle.

Ariail (York, PA/York Suburban) converted on two foul shots to tie the game at 15-15 with 8:00 left to play in the first half, sparking a 7-0 Randolph-Macon with all seven points coming from Ariail. Ariail netted 19 of the Yellow Jackets final 21 points of the first half.

Randolph-Macon extended their lead to 30-22 heading into halftime.

Roanoke's Rebecca Bays cut the Randolph-Macon lead to just two points with 14:06 to play after hitting two consecutive three pointers.

16 seconds later, R-MC's Maggie Roy (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) answered back with a three of her own, putting the Yellow Jackets on top by five, 39-34.

The Maroons chipped away at the Yellow Jackets lead until Jordan Gholson knocked down a two point jumper to tie the game 45-45 with 4:51 remaining.

O'Briant (Chesterfield, VA/ Manchester) put Randolph-Macon back on top when she netted a three pointer with 4:07 to play.

RC took their first lead since the 8:06 mark of the first half on a layup by Kendra Porter, giving Roanoke a 51-50 advantage with just under two minutes to go.

With 1:05 remaining, O'Briant knocked down her second three pointer of the half putting R-MC up 53-51, a lead which the Yellow Jackets would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.

Ariail led all scorers with 29 points while pulling in a game high ten rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. Roy chipped in with nine points and two assists.

Caitlyn Long led Roanoke with 11 points and seven rebounds. Nicci Moats hauled in a team high nine rebounds to go with her 10 points.

With the victory, Randolph-Macon Women's Basketball improves to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the ODAC.

The Yellow Jackets will be back in action Saturday when they host Hollins University; tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.

--Yellow Jackets--