The Basics
Score: Roanoke 69 | Lynchburg 58    
Records: Maroons 8-0 / 4-0 ODAC | Hornets 5-3 / 2-2 ODAC
Location: Lynchburg, Va.

The Lead: On Saturday afternoon Roanoke traveled to Lynchburg to face the Hornets in a rematch of the 2021 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Women's Basketball Championship. After falling to 67-61 last spring, the Maroons looked to exact a bit of revenge and keep their ODAC record without a loss. Roanoke took a 7-3 lead early but a Hornet rally put Lynchburg in front. The Maroons erased a four-point deficit and went into the break with a 34-26 edge. The second half would see RC build a 16-point advantage on their way to picking up the 69-58, ODAC, win.  

How it Happened:

• Renee Alquiza hit a three-pointer followed by a jump shot as Roanoke raced out to a 7-3 lead. Lynchburg tied the score at 12-12 with one-minute to go in the opening frame. The Hornets closed the period on a 4-2 run to take the lead into the second quarter.
• The Lynchburg lead grew to 18-14 before Roanoke rallied to seize control of the game. Rose Sande and Alquiza scored to tie the score before another Alquiza three put RC in front to stay.
• In the closing seconds of the first half, Morgan Micallef buried a jumper to give the Maroons a 34-26 lead at the break.
• Micallef made it a 10-point advantage with a layup to open the second half. With 2:00 to play in the third, Lynchburg had cut the lead to four, 42-38. Roanoke finally went to the free throw line, Lynchburg led 21-0 in attempts to that point, and hit four of four to help push the lead back to 50-41 with one quarter left to play.
• Lauren Keel pushed the lead back into double figures and another Alquiza hoop preceded a Whitney Hopson layup and with 6:05 to play, RC saw their lead grow to 13.
• Micallef gave the Maroons their largest lead of the game, 63-47, with just 3:46 left to play. Lynchburg made one last run but it wasn't enough as Roanoke took the rematch, 69-58.
• Alquiza had a game high 19 with Micallef adding 16 and Keel coming off the bench with 12. All nine Maroons that played would score, including 22 off the bench. Keel had seven rebounds while Sayre Brandstatter had four of RC's 14 steals.

Up next: After the exam and a break for the holidays, Roanoke will play host to Elizabethtown in the first game of the Susan Dunagan Holiday Classic on December 29th.