Late Rally Falls Short on Road in 66-54 Loss

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- The Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team cut the N.C. Wesleyan lead to six points late in the fourth quarter, but the Battling Bishops managed to convert on each free throw attempt down the stretch to preserve a 66-54 win over the Marlins in non-conference action Saturday.

Virginia Wesleyan fell behind 16-10 after the first quarter, but held a 11-9 edge in the second period to trail by just four points, 25-21, heading into halftime after cutting into a 21-13 N.C. Wesleyan lead over the remaining 6:24 before the break.

N.C. Wesleyan pulled away early in the third quarter as Alexis Fitzgerald connected on a three-pointer less than a minute in. Kechae Parker followed with a layup on the next possession before the Battling Bishop defense locked down the Marlins. Five points from Kenyata Harris over the next two minutes put the Battling Bishops up 35-21 before Raya Berkley ended the 10-0 quarter-starting run with a layup at the 5:57 mark. The hosts outscored the Marlins 22-11 in the frame.

The Virginia Wesleyan defense allowed the team to claw back in the fourth quarter, holding the Battling Bishops to just four made field goals in the period with the first coming over four minutes into the quarter.

Jayla Harris was a force for the Marlins in the quarter, scoring 12 points in the 10-minute span on 5-of-8 shooting from the field with two made three-pointers.

Timyra Staton made a layup on a put-back opportunity to put the hosts up 10, 52-42, with 5:13 to play in the game but Harris answered with a driving layup to cut the deficit to eight. A Naeemah Morris free throw on the next possession got the Marlins to within seven points.

The Battling Bishops maintained the lead on made free throws as Parker converted a pair at 4:04 to go back out to a nine-point edge at 54-45. Harris knocked down one more three-pointer to get the Marlins within six, 54-48, with 3:56 to play, but VWC would get no closer.

N.C. Wesleyan made 8-of-8 free throws in the final four minutes and 11-of-13 tries in the fourth quarter.

Harris led N.C. Wesleyan (2-0) with 14 points and 11 rebounds as Parker contributed nine points and six boards.

The Marlins were led by Harris' 17 points while Morris finished with eight points and 11 rebounds. Berkley contributed eight points, three steals, two assists, and four caroms off the bench.

Virginia Wesleyan (1-2) hosts the University of Mary Washington, receiving votes in the preseason Top 25 poll, on Tuesday at 6 p.m.