|
Kristen Blalock nets a career-high 22 points in win
|
|
Lynchburg, VA -- Five WildCats reached double figures, including a career-best 22 points from first-year forward Kristen Blalock, as host Randolph College cruised to a 87-41 ODAC win over Hollins University Tuesday night.
With the win Randolph improves to 4-16 overall and 3-14 in conference play. Hollins drops to 0-21 overall and 0-16 in the ODAC.
Randolph jumped out to an early 11-0 lead thanks to full court pressure that caused havoc for Hollins. Offensively, Blalock recorded the first eight points of the game for the WildCats, and Megan Carney and Lindsay Cross added a free throw and layup respectively to account for the big lead. Hollins would storm back though thanks to the play of Candace Berra, who scored 16 of her team-high 17 points in the first half. Berra single-handedly kept Hollins in the game with driving layups and outside shots. Randolph would hold a slim 30-27 advantage at the half.
The second half was a much different story for the WildCats, who outscored Hollins 57-14 in the stanza. Randolph turned up the pressure defensively, causing turnovers that led to easy scores. The WildCats forced Hollins into 33 turnovers in the game, 17 of them coming in the second half. Rechnitzer found her touch late in the half, connecting on back-to-back treys to give Randolph a big lead and an ODAC victory.
Blalock shot 8-14 from the floor and a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe on way to her best outing of the season. Rechnitzer followed with 15 points, including three three-pointers. Lauren French came off the bench to net a season-high 11 points, canning three treys. Cross and Carney each added 10 points to round out the double figure scorers. Sam Schaffstall was outstanding on the defensive end for the WildCats, recording a school record nine steals in the game. Randolph did a tremendous job of taking care of the basketball, committing a season-low 11 turnovers in the contest.
For Hollins, Emily Long joined Berra in double figures with 11 points and four rebounds.
Randolph will return to action Thursday when the WildCats travel to Salem College for a non-conference matchup scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
CONTACT: Vince Scalzo, Sports Information Director
