VIRGINIA BEACH -- Virginia Wesleyan College's women's basketball was a little sluggish in the beginning Sunday, but eventually put things together to post a 67-58 non-conference victory over the Mustangs of Stevenson University at the Jane P. Batten Student Center.

Playing about 24 hours after Saturday's impressive 76-47 conference win over Roanoke College, the Marlins (9-6) could not get anything started in the early minutes and trailed 20-10 with 11:26 remaining in the first half.

Stevenson (5-7) led 29-18 with 7:57 on the clock following a Caitlyn Roy (Middletown, Md./Middletown) layup, before things started to change for Virginia Wesleyan.  Sophomore Sarah Seipp (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) nailed a timely three-pointer that ignited a 9-0 run that pulled the Marlins within a 29-27 score.

The Mustangs pushed back out to a four-point lead seconds later, but could not build on it.  Virginia Wesleyan outscored Stevenson 8-2 in the final 4:31 to take a 35-33 lead by halftime.  Senior Rachael Miller (Sterling/Park View) knocked down a triple to start the second half, giving VWC a 38-33 lead.

Stevenson rallied to tie the score at 38, only to see Virginia Wesleyan open up a 49-40 lead after an 11-2 scoring run, keyed by two triples from rookie Kelly Jones (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron).  The Marlins eventually led by 10 twice in the ensuing minutes and held a 61-53 lead with 2:41 remaining following a layup by junior Symonne Newsome (Reistertown, Md./St. Paul's School for Girls).

Stevenson pulled with four with 45 seconds after Sam Murray (Resitertown, Md./St. Paul's School for Girls) hit a triple, but Virginia Wesleyan protected its lead from the free throw line in the closing seconds with timely shots by junior Katie Tassa (Bristow/Manassas Osbourn Park) and Miller.

Virginia Wesleyan's pressuring defense was once again a factor in the contest as the Marlins harassed the Mustangs into 30 turnovers.  VWC turned the ball over 12 times.  VWC's quickness also resulted in Stevenson fouls and the Marlins took converted 25-of-36 attempts. 

One day after setting the program record for three-pointers made with 14, the Marlins hit eight times against Stevenson.  While VWC hit 8-of-24 attempts, Stevenson nailed 5-of-12.

Seipp led VWC scoring with 13 points, followed by Jones with 12 and Miller with 10.  Jones hit 4-of-6 triple attempts.  Sophomore Andrea Paphites (Virginia Beach/Princess Anne) and Tassa tied for the team lead with seven rebounds each.

Kyarra Harmon (Walford, Md./North Point) topped Stevenson scoring with 16 points, hitting 7-of-9 field goal attempts.  Murray finished with 13 points and shared rebounding honors with Pee-Jay Gun (Cheltenham, Md./Frederick Douglass), each with five.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Wednesday, Jan. 16, returning to Old Dominion Athletic Conference play.  The Marlins will host the Hornets of Lynchburg College at 7 p.m.

--AMDG--