VIRGINIA BEACH -- It was oh so close for the Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team on Tuesday.

After trailing by as many as 20 points in the second half, the Marlins staged in impressive comeback that nearly caught the Bridgewater College Eagles.  But, two VWC errors after pulling within six points kept the Marlins from getting any closer, as Bridgewater posted a 69-61 Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory at the Jane P. Batten Student Center.

Virginia Wesleyan (11-12, 9-9) used a 20-7 scoring run in nine minutes to put league-leading Bridgewater (20-3, 15-3) on the ropes entering the final four minutes of the game.  Six Marlins scored in the turnaround run, led by junior Shawnee Lewis (Alexandria, Va./Thomas A. Edison) with six points.  Juniors Kristen Blalock (Suffolk, Va./Portsmouth Christian) and Beth Ann Boyce (Colonial Heights, Va./Colonial Heights) and rookie Katie Tassa (Bristow, Va./Manassas Osbourn Park) all knocked through key triples in the surge.

VWC's revived offense was bolstered by an aggressive defense that kept the Eagles from scoring by forcing turnovers.  Bridgewater turned the ball over 10 times during the VWC run and never really found an offensive rhythm in the fianl 15 minutes of the game. 

Timely points from seniors Jordan Burkholder (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) and Emileigh Lambert (Charlottesville, Va./Albermarle) pushed Bridgewater into a 59-50 lead with 3:11 on the clock.  But, VWC sophomore Rachael Miller (Sterling, Va./Park View) kept the pressure on when she hit a triple off an assist from junior Jocelyn Spencer (Newport News, Va./Menchville) to pull the Marlins with a 59-53 score with three minutes to play.

A Bridgewater turnover on the ensuing play gave the Marlins the chance to pull closer, but the opportunity ended when VWC turnover the ball over.  After Bridgewater scored a single point on a two-point free throw opportunity, the Marlins had the chance to cut into the spread again, only to throw it away with a turnover.

Free throws by Jessica Mullen (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley), Jenny Logan (Luray, Va./Luray) and Lambert helped Bridgewater to extend the lead to nine points entering the final minutes.  A triple from Blalock pulled VWC within a 67-61 score with 45 seconds remaining, but Burkholder hit a pair of free throws to provide the final margin of victory for the Eagles.

Blalock scored 17 points to lead VWC scoring, recording her 14th consecutive game with double-figure scoring.  She hit 7-of-12 field goal attempts, including 3-of-3 from three-point range.

Burkholder, the ODAC's leading scorer, led the Eagles with 18 points, helped by a 6-of-6 effort from the free throw lines.  Logan, who was also 6-of-6 from the stripes, finished with 15 points and Mullen added 12 points.

Virginia Wesleyan's defense, which caused problems for Bridgewater throughout the second half, forced the Eagles into 25 turnovers.  VWC produced 14 steals, led by junior Kerry Johnson (Richmond, Va./J.R. Tucker) with four.  She also led VWC on the boards with eight rebounds.

Senior Kristina Jameson (Harrisonburg, Va./Broadway)led VWC with five assists.  Sarah Boeren (Roanoke, Va./Lord Botetourt) recorded four for Bridgewater.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Friday, Feb. 18, hosting Hollins University at 7 p.m.  The Marlins close the regular season at home on Saturday, Feb. 19, hosting Roanoke College at 4 p.m.

--AMDG--