Late Run Carries Captains past VWC 83-73

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team led 45-44 midway through the third quarter, but a 7-0 Christopher Newport run gave a lead to the Captains that they would not relinquish in an 83-73 non-conference decision Sunday afternoon.

The Marlins came out strong from a first half that saw them outscored by just two, 37-35. After an initial free throw, VWC cut it to one point on a Kelly Jones layup. Christopher Newport responded with a pair of baskets coming from Bailey Dufrene and Devon Byrd to go up 42-37 with 8:10 remaining in the third.

Jayla Harris found Crystal Strother on the next posession for a long three-pointer and following an empty Captains posession, Jones connected on a second-chance opportunity to knot the score at 42.

Byrd scored to put the Captains back out 44-42, but Raya Berkley found Jones in an opening of the CNU zone for the go-ahead three-pointer, prompting the run by the Captains. Zhara Tannor had four points in the seven-point spurt for Christopher Newport.

Berkley broke the run with a layup to cut the gap to 51-47 with 3:06 remaining, but Virginia Wesleyan would get no closer than four the rest of the way.

Byrd led Christopher Newport (6-2) with 21 points while Dufrene ended with 20 points and six rebounds.

Strother finished with a team-high 18 points for the Marlins as Jones ended the day with 16 points and four steals. Harris had 14 points while Berkley ended with a career-best 13 in her first start.Alexis Platt also set a new career best with 14 rebounds.

Virginia Wesleyan (2-7) will be off until December 30 when Stevenson University comes to Virginia Beach for a 7:30 p.m. start. The men's basketball team will play at 5 p.m. on December 30.