2026 SESSION

ENROLLED

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 211

Commending the Randolph-Macon College women's basketball team.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 9, 2026

Agreed to by the Senate, March 11, 2026

WHEREAS, the Randolph-Macon College women's basketball team, a storied college athletics program in Ashland, celebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2025–2026 academic year; and

WHEREAS, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team was first organized in 1975-1976 and coached by Billy Wood, who was working in admissions; and

WHEREAS, in 1976-1977, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team was a club-level team, but often faced varsity-level opponents as there were no junior varsity opponents available at the time; the program's first win took place at Virginia Wesleyan University and the first home win was against Liberty Baptist College; and

WHEREAS, in 1977-1978, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team played its first season as a varsity team and completed its first winning season with an 11–6 record; the team also recorded its first win over the University of Richmond and other notable wins against Liberty Baptist College and Christopher Newport University; and

WHEREAS, Linda Sheppe became head coach in 1978-1979, followed by Linda Lerch in 1979-1980, when the team was reclassified to Division III in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and played in its first playoff game; and

WHEREAS, in 1981, Cindy Crabill became the first 1,000-point scorer in program history, and the team finished as state runner-up in Division III in the AIAW; and

WHEREAS, Billy Wood returned as head coach for one season until Carroll LaHaye transitioned from assistant coach to head coach in 1982, while also coaching women's soccer, women's lacrosse, and teaching in the physical education department; and

WHEREAS, in 1990, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team played its first season in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III and earned its first win in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC); and

WHEREAS, in 1996, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team won its first ODAC regular season championship and first ODAC Tournament championship, made its first NCAA Tournament appearance and first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, and recorded its first 20-win season; and

WHEREAS, in 1998 and 1999, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team became ODAC regular season champions and made NCAA Tournament appearances; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team won the ODAC Tournament championship and went to the second round in the NCAA Tournament; and

WHEREAS, in 2005, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team were again the ODAC regular season champions with a 20–0 record and won the ODAC Tournament; the team made its first appearances in the NCAA Elite Eight, the NCAA Final Four, and the NCAA Championship final, with Megan Silva winning the Jostens Trophy and National Player of the Year award; and

WHEREAS, in 2006, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team were the ODAC regular season champions and the ODAC Tournament champions, finishing the season in the NCAA Elite Eight; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, 2009, and 2011, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team were ODAC regular season champions and ODAC Tournament champions and made NCAA postseason appearances; and

WHEREAS, in 2012, Carroll LaHaye notched her 500th career win as head coach of the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team, an 82–70 victory over Roanoke College; and

WHEREAS, in 2014 and 2018, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team were ODAC Tournament champions and made NCAA postseason appearances; and

WHEREAS, in 2018, Carroll LaHaye recorded her 600th career win, a 71-59 victory over the University of Lynchburg, becoming the 59th coach in NCAA history across all divisions to reach the milestone; and

WHEREAS, in 2020, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team became ODAC Tournament champions and competed in the postseason; at the end of the season Carroll LaHaye retired as the all-time ODAC wins leader with 647; and

WHEREAS, in 2020, Lindsey Burke was hired as the fifth head coach in the history of the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team; she recorded her first win on January 23, 2021, a 77-64 victory against Ferrum College; and

WHEREAS, in 2022, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team became ODAC regular season co-champions for the first time in 11 seasons; and

WHEREAS, in 2025, the Randolph-Macon women's basketball team became ODAC regular season champions with a 16-0 record, won the ODAC Tournament, and reached the NCAA Sweet 16, setting a program win-streak record with 28 consecutive wins; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Randolph-Macon College women's basketball team on the occasion of the program's 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Randolph-Macon College women's basketball team as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the team's history of success and legacy of contributions to Randolph-Macon College and the Ashland community.