WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Catholic women's basketball team looked to collect its second victory in the Jamie Lynn Roberts Fairfield Inn DC Holiday Classic on Tuesday afternoon against Randolph-Macon. The Yellow Jackets took the lead late in the second quarter and were able to hang on to it for the remainder of regulation to come away with a 68-57 victory over the Cardinals.
The Cardinals attacked the paint in the early portion of the contest, scoring eight of their first 10 points in the lane to open up an early 10-4 lead in the opening four minutes. The Yellow Jackets locked in on defense and only allowed two more points the rest of the quarter while Erin Porter knocked down a pair of threes to help Randolph-Macon get out to a 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The teams traded buckets back and forth throughout the second quarter as the lead never grew larger than five for Randolph-Macon throughout the period. Catholic used an 8-0 run to take its lone lead of the second when
Anna Scoblick,
Amelia Kennedy,
Carly Catania and
Bridget Archbold all converted to put the Cardinals on top 27-24 with 2:50 remaining in the half. Porter connected on another three and the Yellow Jackets capitalized at the charity stripe to take a 32-28 lead into the halftime break.
The Yellow Jackets were able to open up an 11 point lead in the third quarter while shooting 6-for-11 from the field to take control of the action heading into the fourth quarter. Randolph-Macon went on a 13-2 run through the middle stages of the period after a Sam Smith three opened up a 13 point lead.
The Cardinals were able to cut the deficit down to seven with just under five minutes remaining in the game after Kennedy knocked down three free throws and Catania scored on a layup to make it 56-49. The Yellow Jackets were able to shoot at a high clip from the charity stripe to keep Catholic at bay and close out an 11 point win. The loss dropped the Cardinals to 6-3 on the season.
Kennedy led Catholic in points with 16 while also coming down with six rebounds. Scoblick came just one rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine boards and
Lauren Kraft also kicked in 10 points with six rebounds.
Kennedy and Scoblick were named to the JLR All-Tournament team with Mackenzie Matheny also earning a spot on the team and Porter earned Most Valuable Player for the tournament.
Catholic is back in action on Friday, December 19 when it takes on Maryville in the Nelson Hinson Invitational. Tipoff is set for 5 pm at the Freeman Center in Newport News, Va.
