For Immediate Release
February 16, 1999


Roanoke Falls to Randolph-Macon, 70-59
Maroons Drop First Home Game of the Season

SALEM, Va.--The Roanoke College women's basketball team lost just its fourth game of the year tonight, falling to the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets, 70-59, in the Bast Center in Salem, VA. With the loss, Roanoke drops to 19-4, 17-2, while the win gives RMC a 20-2 record, 18-0 in conference play.
 
The Yellow Jackets led by 10 points at the half, 29-19, after forcing the Maroons to commit 17 turnovers in the opening period of play. RMC shot just 37.5 percent in the first, but because of the 17 RC miscues, was able to take 11 more shots and make five more. Roanoke ended the game with 24 turnovers, compared to RMC's 11.

In the first seven minutes of the second half not much changed, as the RMC defense pressured the Maroons into several turnovers. However, with just under 12 minutes left in the game, Roanoke began a comeback. After a 15-point Yellow Jacket lead was cut to nine, the Maroons went on a 4-0 spurt that trimmed the advantage to just five. When freshman Jill Quesenberry (Indian Valley, VA/Floyd County) dropped in two free throws with 6:54 left, Roanoke trailed by just two. Macon would let the home team get no closer, eventually pushing the lead to six before free throw shooting down the stretch made the final margin 11 points.

On Senior Night, senior Carrie McConnell (Dublin, VA/Pulaski County) led the Maroons in the scoring column, dropping in 15 points. She also added five rebounds and three steals to the mix. Sarah Dingledine (Standardsville, VA/William Monroe) tossed in 12 points, while Suzanne Webb (Narrows, VA/Narrows) totaled 10 points.
 
In their return to Roanoke, Randolph-Macon's Beightol sisters combined for 30 points (a game-high 19 for Allison Beightol and 11 points for Aimee Beightol). Meredith Roberts added 14 points for Macon, who completed a sweep of Roanoke for the second consecutive season.
 
The loss was the first for the Maroons at home this season, after racking up nine in their previous nine tries.