LEXINGTON, Va. -- Sarah Seipp scored key back-to-back layups late in the second half of Tuesday's women's basketball game at Washington and Lee University to help guide Virginia Wesleyan College to a 67-58 Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory.

The host Generals (6-10, 4-7) trailed 44-31 with 12:49 remaining, but gradually whittled away at the deficit to pull within a 48-46 score with 7:31 on the clock. That's where the rally ended however, as Seipp (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) hit consecutive baskets to restore momentum with the visiting Marlins.

Seipp's scores were part of a 19-12 scoring advantage in the final seven minutes for the Marlins, including a timely three-pointer by rookie Kerri-Leanne Taylor (Stockport, England/The Hill School, Pa.), that carried VWC to the win.  |

The victory improved Virginia Wesleyan's record to 14-3 overall and to 11-1 in the ODAC, keeping the Marlins tied for first place in the league with Eastern Mennonite University.

Washington and Lee led early in the contest, before senior Beth Ann Boyce (Colonial Heights, Va./Colonial Heights) hit a pair of free throws to tie the game for Virginia Wesleyan with 12:24 remaining before halftime.  Seipp followed with five points and senior Shawnee Lewis (Alexandria, Va./Thomas A. Edison) added four to help the Marlins outscore the Generals 15-10 in the remainder of the half to take a 31-26 lead at the break.

Virginia Wesleyan extended its lead in the first eight minutes of the second half with a 13-5 run, led by junior Rachael Miller (Sterling, Va./Park View) with five points.  Layups by rookies Nancy Kelly (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) and Brittany Glasco (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) helped the Marlins to a 44-31 lead with 12:49 remaining in the game, before Washington and Lee staged its final rally.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep of Washington and Lee for Virginia Wesleyan.  The Marlins also won 65-47 in the first meeting on Jan. 3 in Virginia Beach.

Seipp led Virginia Wesleyan with 15 points, seven rebounds, and five steals.  Lewis and Miller added 11 points each and Taylor tied a season-high with seven points.  Lewis also pulled down six rebounds and dished out four assists. Miller led the Marlins at the free throw lines, hitting 6-of-6 attempts.

Meg Ingram (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) led Washington and Lee with 21 points and Becca Bolton (Pittsboro, N.C./Chatham Central) added 13 points.  Ingram hit 7-of-16 field goals, including four triples. Bolton led all rebounding with 11.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Saturday, Jan. 28, hosting the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College in ODAC competition starting at 4 p.m. at the Jane P. Batten Student Center.

--AMDG--