The Basics
Score: Roanoke 63 | Elizabethtown 78
Records: Maroons 8-1 / 4-0 ODAC | Blue Jays 7-2
Location: Salem, Va. (Susan Dunagan Holiday Classic)
The Lead: 18 days after besting Lynchburg in a rematch of the 2021 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Women's Basketball Championship game Roanoke hosted Elizabethtown in the opening game of the 2021 Susan Dunagan Holiday Classic. The Maroons enjoyed a late advantage in the first half, but an 11-2 closing run would give the Blue Jays the lead at the break. The closing stages of the third would see a 15-0 Elizabethtown run put the game away. Roanoke was able to outscore the Blue Jays in the fourth but it wasn't enough as RC suffered her first loss of the season, 78-63.
How it Happened:
- Morgan Micallef hit a pair of free throws to give the Maroons an early edge. The Blue Jays would score the next seven to take control of the matchup.
- With 2:45 to play in the opening frame, Roanoke found themselves in an eight-point hole. Three points by Micallef and a Whitney Hopson layup brought the Maroons to within three, 15-12.
- Elizabethtown once again surged ahead but that's when Roanoke began a rally that would see the Maroons use a 15-7 run to re-take the lead after another Hopson layup and 3-pointer by Renee Alquiza.
- With the score tied at 30-30 and 2:51 left before the break, the Blue Jays responded by closing the half with a run of their own, 9-2, and took a 39-32 edge into the locker room.
- The two teams would trade baskets for the first part of the third quarter. With E'Town leading 48-40, the Blue Jays would close the quarter by scoring 20 of the final 24 points to put themselves in firm control.
- Alquiza and Kristina Harrel combined for 12 of RC's 19, fourth quarter points, as the Maroons took the final period 19-10 but fell for the first time this season, 78-63.
- Alquiza finished with 12 while Micallef added 11. Hopson ended with 10 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Up next: Roanoke will wrap up the 2021 Susan Dunagan Holiday Classic with a game against #6 Christopher Newport tomorrow at 5pm.
