SALEM, Va. --- Randolph-Macon College is back atop the ODAC women's basketball podium!
The nationally 18th-ranked Yellow Jackets weathered a third-quarter comeback by 20th-ranked and two-time defending league champion Washington and Lee University to post a 65-58 victory over the Generals and lift their 11th conference trophy on Saturday night in the Salem Civic Center. Randolph-Macon earns the ODAC's automatic entry into the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament bracket. The field of 64 is slated to be released at 2:30 p.m. ET on Monday on ncaa.com.
Randolph-Macon (27-1) has now won 26 games in a row, the latest victory pulling RMC to within two championships of ODAC all-time leader Roanoke College at 13 crowns. Washington and Lee (24-4) finishes as the runner-up for the second time in program history. The Generals will look to see where their final NCAA Power Index (NPI) rating falls in the Division III landscape to see if their season will continue as an at-large entry on the national stage.
Senior forward
Catherine Kagey was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and was one of three Yellow Jackets to earn an ODAC All-Tournament Team spot, as selected by tournament host the Salem Rotary Club. She was joined by teammates
Sam Smith and
McKenzie Matheny as well as Generals forwards
Mary Schleusner and
Sarah Zimmerman.
Kagey finished with a team-best 25 points and 10 rebounds for her fourth straight and 12th double-double of the season. She was 11-of-14 from the foul line, accounting for the bulk of RMC's 22-of-28 showing from the charity stripe. Smith made 7-of-8 free throws on the way to 13 points to go with three boards and a pair of assists. Matheny chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds.
Schleusner led all players with 31 points and 22 rebounds with seven coming via the offensive glass. She also handed out four assists and blocked four shots. The ODAC's all-time rebound leader (1,409) is also the Generals all-time leader in points scored (1,751) and blocked shots (270). Zimmerman, who dropped in 22 points against Ferrum College in the semifinals, finished with six points and three boards on Saturday.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
- Catherine Kagey, RMC (MVP)
- McKenzie Matheny, RMC
- Sam Smith, RMC
- Mary Schleusner, WLU
- Sarah Zimmerman, WLU