Explosive First Quarter Carries Marlins to 68-58 Victory

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The Virginia Wesleyan women's basketball team outscored Roanoke College 26-13 in the first quarter en route to a 68-58 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) victory Saturday afternoon.

Roanoke took the first lead of the game, going up 4-0 on a pair of Kelsey Smith baskets, but Virginia Wesleyan responded with a 19-2 run over the next 4:30 to lead 19-6 with 3:41 to play in the first. The Marlins missed just five shots during the run, managing to capitalize for second chance points on each of those missed baskets.

Crystal Strother connected from three-point range three times during the run while Kelly Jones added six points.

Roanoke tried to step up its defense in the second quarter, holding the Marlins to just three points through the first 5:24 of the period. The Virginia Wesleyan defense was just as stout, limiting Roanoke to 10 points during the drought to maintain its 31-23 edge. Roanoke cut its deficit to seven points but would get no closer in the frame.

The Maroons looked to take momentum in the early minutes of the second half, scoring almost immediately out of the break on a jumper by Smith. A layup by Ellen Wagner, followed by another basket in the paint from Anna Carter cut the deficit to one point, 34-33 just under two minutes into third-quarter action.

Jayla Harris found Strother for another three to give the Marlin crowd a boost. Roanoke cut it back to two points, 37-35, on a jumper by Wagner, but the visitors would get no closer as the Marlins posted a 14-2 run to take a commanding 51-37 edge.

Cary Beahm led Bridgewater (7-6/3-2) with 13 points and 17 rebounds while Kelsey Smith talllied 15 points.

The Marlins were led by Strother's 22 points, six rebounds and four assists. In total, four players scored in double-figures and four of the seven members in the rotatlon tallied at least seven rebounds. Strother is averaging 26 points per game in her last two contests after scoring 30 points on Wednesday.

Virginia Wesleyan (5-10/3-4) travels to Shenandoah University (4-10/1-4) Wednesday for a 7 p.m. ODAC start.