Jackets Earn Automatic Bid into NCAA Tourney

Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- Amanda Hiltunen connected on a three-pointer with 2:43 to play to open up a tight second half of back-and-forth action, providing the cushion for a 69-65 victory for Randolph-Macon College over Bridgewater College in the 2009 ODAC Women's Basketball Tournament championship game.  The Yellow Jackets improve to 23-5 on the season while the Eagles bow out with a 17-11 overall record.

The victory marks the sixth conference crown for the Yellow Jackets in nine tries, and also earns them the ODAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

With the upper hand having been traded several times throughout the second half, Hiltunen regained the lead for R-MC for the second time in as many possessions with a three-pointer to make the score 58-56 with 4:52 to play.  A pair from the line by Molly Ariail and another three-pointer from Hiltunen off an Ariail steal pushed R-MC's margin to seven points at 63-56, forcing Bridgewater into a timeout with 2:43 to play.

The Eagles were forced to pick up the pace and press for scores, but shots wouldn't fall for BC.  Hiltunen hit four straight from the free throw line, and Lindsay Riesbeck added two of her own free tosses to extend the R-MC lead to 13 points with 42 seconds to play.

Bridgewater made a final charge down the stretch, getting a three-point play from Jordan Burkholder and four straight points from Emileigh Lambert to cut its deficit down to six points.  Out of a timeout, Brittany Criss came away with a steal off the inbounds, resulting in a Burkholder lay-in with 0:04 to play.  The clock ran out before anymore shots could b attempted.

Randolph-Macon forced Bridgewater into 19 turnovers, costing the Eagles 16 points.  Bridgewater shot only 28-percent from the field in the first half, lending to R-MC's 33-24 halftime lead.

Hiltunen led Randolph-Macon with 19 points, hitting 3-of-7 from behind the arc.  Ariail, voted the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, had her second double-double in as many games with 11 points and 12 rebounds to go with four steals.  Riesbeck finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, shooting 11-of-14 from the foul line.  She also had three blocks and three steals.

Burkholder led all scorers with 20 points to go with six rebounds.  Lambert finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.  She was also 8-of-8 from the foul line.  Rebecca Henderson matched Ariail with a game-high 12 rebounds.

Randolph-Macon will learn of its first round destination and opponents for Monday's selection process.  Please check www.ncaa.com to learn more about the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball and the upcoming field of teams.