WINCHESTER, Va. -- Winning on the road can be a challenge to any team, but Virginia Wesleyan College's women's basketball team put itself in a good situation early at Shenandoah University on Wednesday.

Senior Symonne Newsome(Reistertown, Md./St. Paul's School for Girls)scored six points to lead five Marlins in scoring and a 16-0 lead in the first nine minutes of competition in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) game.  VWC went on to post a 33-17 lead at halftime and never let up, posting a 55-38 win over the Hornets.

VWC, which held an opponent under 40 points for the third time this season, improved to 12-6 overall and to 6-3 in the league.  Shenandoah fell to 2-7 in the ODAC and to 6-12 overall.

The Marlins hit only 4-of-19 three-point shots overall, but enjoyed success inside where VWC dominated for a 34-18 scoring difference. Senior Nancy Kelly(Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) led that effort, hitting on 7-of-13 shots en route to scoring a game-leading 14 points. She pulled down nine offensive rebounds en route to 16 overall, helping her to mark her second double-double of the season.

Newsome finished with 10 points for the Marlins, and senior Kerri Taylor (Stockport, England/Pottstown, Pa. The Hill School) added eight points.  Senior Brittany Glasco(Fredericksburg/Massaponax) contributed to the win with seven rebounds and senior Andrea Paphites (Virginia Beach/Princess Anne) led the Marlins with six assists, three steals and three blocks.

Kirstyn Acata (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill) led Shenandoah with 11 points.

VWC returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 31, in ODAC action at league-leading Eastern Mennonite University at 2 p.m.

--AMDG--