VIRGINIA BEACH -- Kristen Blalock ripped through back-to-back triples in overtime and Shawnee Lewis added seven points in the extra minutes to help Virginia Wesleyan College's women's basketball team to a thrilling 69-66 overtime win over Hollins University.

A vastly improved Hollins team led 60-57 after a jumper by Chanci Wright  early in the OT, before Blalock (Suffolk,Va./Portsmouth Christian) tied the score on a triple off an assist from rookie Katie Tassa (Bristow, Va./Manassas Osbourn Park).  Hollins turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and Blaclock nailed another triple, this one from the left corner off a pass from Kristina Jameson (Harrisonburg, Va./Broadway).

It was a scoring spurt that put the Marlins (12-12, 10-9) in front for good. Lewis (Alexandria, Va./Thomas A. Edison), one of the top free throw shooters in the league, hit two key freebies to extend VWC's lead to 65-60 with 1:36 on the clock.

Lacie Forrest (Richmond, Va./Meadowbrook) hit a jumper to pull Hollins within three, only to see Lewis race coast-to-coast on the inbounds play to score on a layup that put VWC in front 67-62 with 30 seconds remaining.  Scoring by Jasmine Greene (Hampton, Va./Tabb) pulled the visiting team with a 67-66 score with seven seconds remaining, but Lewis was fouled again and knocked through two big free throws to proved the final margin of victory.

It was an intense game from the start as the teams battled to 10 ties, seven in the second half. There were also nine lead changes.  A Geene layup put Hollins in a 57-55 lead with 1:13 remaining in regulation, but Blalock hit a jumper with 38 seconds remaining to tie the game.

Blalock led all scoring, rebounding and blocking with 20 points, 11 caroms and six stops.  Her six blocks tied the VWC record set by Lindsey Churchill in 2004 and tied by three other players.  Overall, the Marlins blocked 11 shots, tying a VWC team record set in 2009 against Randolph College.

Lewis contributed 15 points to the win, hitting 6-of-8 free throws, and sophomore Rachael Miller (Sterling, Va./Park View) added 11 points.  Miller hit three key triples for the Marlins, who hit eight overall.

Hollins helped itself by hitting 22-of-31 free throws, led by Krystle White (Princeton, W.Va./Princeton) hitting 9-of-10.  HU also won the battle on the boards, 53-47, led by Greene, Forrest and White with eight each. 

Virginia Wesleyan closes the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 19, hosting Roanoke College at 4 p.m.