THE GAME FACTS
Score: Roanoke 77, Randolph-Macon 69
Location: Salem, Va.
 
The Short Story: The sixth-seeded Maroons built up a huge lead and fended off a late comeback from third-seeded Randolph-Macon to advance to the ODAC semifinals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Roanoke scored the first six points of the game, including four early markers from Madison Nereu. The Maroons built up a double-digit advantage by the end of the first quarter, going ahead 21-8 on a pair of Kate Littlejohn free throws with 1.1 seconds left. Nereu had eight points in the period, and Roanoke also knocked down 9-of-10 foul shots.
• The Maroons then scored the first nine points of the second quarter – part of a 15-0 run that began in the opening frame – to assume a 30-8 lead on a Rose Sande basket with 7:13 to play. The Yellow Jackets could only chip away a fraction of the deficit before the break, as Roanoke headed into halftime up 38-22. Lauren Keel had 14 points by the intermission, and Sande had 10 markers.
• The Maroons sat on a healthy cushion throughout the third quarter, leading by at least 13 points throughout and pushing the gap to as much as 24 (58-34) on two Keel free throws with 2:23 to go. Roanoke held a 60-40 lead heading into the final frame.
• A 3-pointer from Kate Littlejohn on the opening possession of the fourth period made it 63-40, and the Maroons led 67-45 on a driving layup from Sande at the 8:09 mark. Randolph-Macon responded with an 18-4 spurt, pulling within eight (71-63) on two Sam Smith free throws with 2:41 to play.
• But Keel came up with a key three-point play to push Roanoke's lead back to double digits (74-63) with just 1:23 remaining, and the Maroons held on for the win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Keel led all scorers with 25 points, connecting on 9-of-14 shots from the floor and sinking all five of her free throws. She also collected seven rebounds.
• Sande added 20 points and eight rebounds, and Nereu totaled 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Littlejohn notched eight markers, and Mariah Cain chipped in seven points.
• Juliana Park led the Jackets with 20 points. Jane Elkins tallied 15 points and nine rebounds, while Bella Bruce scored 11 points and Smith finished with seven points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
• The Maroons knocked down a season-high 23-of-28 free throws in the game, and they also shot 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the field. Randolph-Macon converted on 10-of-29 three-point attempts, including a 7-of-12 mark in the fourth period.

UP NEXT

• Roanoke will take on second-seeded Shenandoah in the ODAC semifinals at the Salem Civic Center on Saturday evening. Tip time is slated for 8 p.m.