VIRGINIA BEACH -- Kristen Blalock scored four of Virginia Wesleyan College's six points in the opening three minutes of the second half in a short run that was just a precursor for what was to come against Emory & Henry College's Wasps.

While it was a spark that helped ignite a flame, it was also part of a 10-point night for Blalock (Suffolk, Va./Portsmouth Christian), who surpassed the 1,000 point plateau in her intercollegiate career.  She actually hit the magic mark with her second basket of the night, and added on the rest of the way to give her 1,006 points by the end of the game.

When it was all over Friday at the Jane P. Batten Student Center, Virginia Wesleyan posted a 74-50 victory to improve to 15-4 overall and to 12-2 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.  The victory ties the Marlins for second place in the current standings with the Quakers of Guilford College, who invade the Batten Center on Saturday, Feb. 4, for a 4 p.m. start.

Virginia Wesleyan notched its 15th win with a strong second half, shaking off the pesky Wasps (2-13, 1-12), who managed to keep the Marlins close throughout the first half.  VWC never led by more than 11 points in the half, which closed with the Marlins holding a 32-27 lead.

But, that all changed in the second half, starting the the Blalock-keyed 6-0 spurt to open up a 38-27 lead.  Valerie Beale (Greensboro, N.C./Wesleyan Christian Academy) hit a basket to stop it briefly, before senior Beth Ann Boyce (Colonial Heights, Va./Colonial Heights) knocked through a triple to reignite things for Virginia Wesleyan.

Boyce's triple was the start of a decisive 25-5 run by the Marlins, who pushed out to a 63-34 lead with 8:19 remaining to be played.  Virginia Wesleyan's depth emerged in the run as eight Marlins scored, led by senior Shawnee Lewis (Alexandria, Va./Thomas A. Edison) with seven points.  Rookie Brittany Glasco (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) added four points.

Virginia Wesleyan opened its largest lead minutes later at 69-39 following a free throw by rookie Nancy Kelly (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney).

Emory & Henry scored first in the game on a jumper by Michelle Williams (Stokesdale, N.C./Northwest Guilford) to lead the Marlins, and tied the game at 7-7 after a three-point play by Ashlyn Baird (Boone, N.C./Watauga).  But, sophomore Katie Tassa (Bristow, Va./Manassas Osbourn Park) hit a free throw seconds later to return the lead to Virginia Wesleyan, which led the rest of the game. 

Virginia Wesleyan helped itself with a harassing defense that helped force 24 Emory & Henry turnovers.  The Marlins scored 27 points off those mistakes.  VWC also out-rebounded the Wasps 51-39 and recorded a 27-8 advantage in second effort points.

Rookie Sarah Seipp (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) led VWC scoring with 11 points.  Blalock followed with 10 and Boyce, Kelly, and Glasco added nine points each.  Eleven Marlins scored and 12 recorded rebounds as the Marlins pulled down 51 for the second consecutive game.  Senior Jocelyn Spencer (Newport News, Va./Hampton Roads Academy) led the balanced effort with six.  Junior Rachael Miller (Sterling, Va./Park View) recorded a game-high five assists.

Kristie Langley (Staley, N.C./Providence Grove) led Emory & Henry with 15 points, hitting 7-of-13 shots from the field.  Carlyta Hamm (Wytheville, Va./Fort Chiswell) led all rebounders with 12.

--AMDG--