Balanced Effort Leads Virginia Wesleyan to 72-40 Victory

ROANOKE, Va. -- Four players scored at least 12 points for the Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team Saturday as the Marlins defeated Hollins University 72-40 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action.

It was the 22nd straight victory over Hollins for the Marlins, having not lost to the opponents from Roanoke since a road contest in the 2003-04 season.

Virginia Wesleyan outscored Hollins in each quarter Saturday, leading 30-19 at halftime before jumping out to an impressive 24-8 margin in the third quarter for a 54-27 edge.

The Marlin defense locked down Hollins early in the third quarter, holding the hosts to just four points through six minutes of play while scoring 11 points to pull away 41-23. Raya Berkley had five points in the run while Naeemah Morris, Kelly Jones and Jayla Harris scored two each.

VWC shot 47.1% from the field for the game with a 38.1% mark from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Marlins' top-ranked perimeter defense held Hollins to a 16.7% mark from three-point land on 2-of-12 shooting.

Sally Sroge led Hollins (3-8/0-4) with 10 points while Porsha Waddey contributed 10 rebounds and Nikki Valencia added four steals.

Jones led the Marlins with 15 points and seven assists as Crystal Strother collected her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Harris and Berkley each tallied 12 points while the latter contributed eight rebounds.

Virginia Wesleyan (4-9/2-3), winners of two-straight ODAC games will continue league play Wednesday night as Bridgewater College (5-6/1-2) comes to town for a 7 p.m. start.