Fourth Quarter Rally falls short as Eagles Outlast Marlins 84-78

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The Virginia Wesleyan women's basketball team outscored Bridgewater College 27-21 in the fourth quarter, but the advantage was not enough as the Eagles defeated VWC 84-78 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action Wednesday night.

Bridgewater led 43-33 at halftime behind a dominant 25-14 showing in the second quarter. That momentum carried over into the third quarter as the visitors outscored the Marlins by a pair to take a 63-51 margin into the fourth period.

Bridgewater maintained a double-digit edge until the 5:57 mark when Crystal Strother connected on one of her five three-pointers in the game to cut the deficit to 69-60. The Eagles responded with a 6-0 run on an old-fashioned three-point play by Cassidy Burkholder, a layup by Jessalyn Monday, and a Jessica Lam free throw.

Virginia Wesleyan, trailing by the widest margin of the game, 75-60, with 4:48 remaining in the contest, began to cut into the Bridgewater lead with suffocating full-court defense.

Strother knocked down a three on the Marlins' next possession and forced a turnover in the front court that was stolen and laid into the basket by Jayla Harris.

Monday put Bridgewater back up 77-65 on a layup with 3:09 to play, but the Marlins went on an 11-0 run over the next 1:40 to get within a single point. The Marlin press forced three turnovers in that span.

Harris started the run with a free throw before Strother connected on a trifecta for a 77-69 margin. Back-to-back steals and layups by Strother cut the deficit in half. A made free throw put the pressure on Bridgewater, who held to a 77-74 lead with 1:40 to play. The Eagles turned the ball over on a shot clock violation, allowing the Marlins to get within a point or tie. Harris drove the paint for a layup, getting the Marlins within a point for the first time since the second quarter.

Burkholder ended the Eagles' scoring drought on the next possession with an up-and-under layup. A made free throw by Burkholder and an empty Marlins' possession forced Virginia Wesleyan to foul to get the ball back. Bridgewater knocked down all four free throw attempts in the final 18 seconds.

Burkholder led Bridgewater (7-6/3-2 ODAC) with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as Lam contributed 18 points and Briana Moore, 15, to go with five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Strother paced the Marlins with a career-high 30 points. It was the most points scored by a Marlin so far this season. She also contributed eight rebounds and three steals, both team highs. Harris added 17 points and five assists while Raya Berkley scored 11 points and Kelly Jones tacked on 10 more.

Virginia Wesleyan (4-10/2-4) host Roanoke College (7-6/3-2) Saturday for a 2 p.m. ODAC start.