The Basics
Score: Roanoke 84 | Washington and Lee 64
Records: Maroons 19-5 / 14-3 ODAC | Generals 18-5 / 15-2 ODAC
Location: Lexington, Va.
The Lead: After falling to Washington and Lee on February 7th, the Roanoke women traveled to Lexington for the rematch with the Generals. The Maroons trailed, 25-23, with 6:30 to play in the first half, however Roanoke would close the half on a 24-7 surge to seize control of the game. Washington and Lee would close the gap to five heading into the final quarter but Roanoke opened up a double-digit lead and pulled away down the stretch for the 84-66, Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), win over the conference leading Generals.
How it Happened:
- Whitney Hopson scored off the opening tip to start what would prove to be a career night for the senior point guard. Kristina Harrel and Renee Alquiza completed the 6-0 start for the Maroons. After a W&L score, Hopson hit her first three-pointer of the night followed by buckets by Ayanna Scarborough and Sayre Brandstatter to see the RC lead grow into double figures.
- Roanoke would lead by as many as 12 but a late General rally would close the gap and make it a 20-17 game after one period of play. Washington and Lee would continue to close the deficit and with 6:31 to play in the first half, had taken their first lead of the evening, 25-23.
- Hopson completed a three-point play and Lauren Keel scored to put the Maroons back in front. The Hopson/Keel duo would score 18 straight Roanoke points as the Maroons would enjoy a 41-28 lead with 2:17 remaining on the clock. When Harrel scored a layup in the closing seconds, Roanoke enjoyed a 47-32 edge at the break.
- The Generals would mount a rally during a third quarter that would see the home team shoot 47.4% (9-19) from the field and 4-10 from the 3-point line to close the gap to five, after out-scoring Roanoke 22-12 during the 10-minutes of play.
- A Brandstatter triple pushed the Roanoke lead back to nine, 65-56. After a W&L basket, JaBryah Haverkamp started and Hopson finished a 12-0 run to put the game away. Peyton Kirchner put the finishing touch on the 84-66 win, handing the Generals their first home loss since December of 2019, breaking their 19-game home win streak.
- Hopson matched a career high with 28 points on 8-12 shooting, 3-4 from the 3-point line, and 9-9 from the free throw stripe. The senior added seven rebounds with five assists while Harrel and Keel each scored 13 and Alquiza added 10. Brandstatter grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, three helpers, and a pair of steals.
Up next: Roanoke will finish the regular season at home on Saturday when they play host to Randolph at 4:30pm.
