FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Sophomore Kelly Williams (Garysburg, N.C./Halifax Academy) went for 22 points and 22 rebounds Sunday as the Yellow Jackets defeated the Vikings of Lawrence University 68-52 in the Cruzin Classic in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Williams, along with junior Jayla Wade (Newport News, Va. / Heritage) and freshman Becca Arrington (Amelia, Va. / Amelia Academy) scored in the double-digits in the game.
Williams started the game strong. She had eight points and six rebounds in the first quarter as well as a block as the Yellow Jackets (7-1) got out to an 11-6 lead. The Vikings (2-9) got the game close – within a bucket – with 2:38 to go in the period. But it was Randolph-Macon who took the advantage into the second period 20-16. Arrington had a big first quarter as well, going 2-of-3 from beyond the arc in the quarter. She finished the game with 11 points in 28 minutes of action and pulled in three rebounds as well as two assists.
Sophomore Charlotte Woods (Richmond, Va. / Trinity) scored the first points for either side about two minutes into the second period. Woods finished the game with seven points and eight rebounds as well as a block. Randolph-Macon got out to an eight point lead with another bucket by Woods with 6:47 to go in the 2nd. That lead grew and shrunk by small margins for the rest of the period as the Vikings never got the score under a six point margin, while the Yellow Jackets took the lead up to 12 – their halftime advantage -- with the score 38-26. R-MC shot 56% from the floor in the first quarter and 50% in the second quarter while holding Lawrence to 44% and 29% respectively.
From there, the Vikings never threatened to bring the lead closer than the 12 they had at halftime, while Randolph-Macon pushed ahead by as many as 22 points in the second half. Wade had a pair of field goals within a minute of each other from the 5:30 mark in the second half. In addition to finishing the game with ten points, she also dished out six assists. Senior Teal Reynolds (Sterling, Va. / Potomac Falls) also had a big third quarter, scoring six points – her only points of the game. She also finished with an assist and two rebounds.
The Vikings put together a five point run with 6:48 to go in the fourth quarter, but R-MC calmly responded with a pair of free throws from Williams and a bucket by junior Leara Shumate (Fishersville, Va. / Wilson Memorial). Shumate finished with four points and four rebounds as well as a block in 16 minutes of work.
R-MC also got critical work out of junior Kelsey Wisner (York, Pa. / Central York), who finished with four points and a pair of assists as well as two rebounds and a steal. Freshman Elise Knobloch (Glenville, Pa. / Delone Catholic) scored four points and had six rebounds and a pair of assists in her 18 minutes of work. Sophomore Ashlynn Green (Spotsylvania, Va. / Spotsylvania) pulled in three rebounds and took a steal away as well. In addition to her large rebound and point totals, Williams was also credited with four blocks in the game.
Randolph-Macon continues in the Cruzin Classic tomorrow at 2:00 PM against Lycoming College.