Defensive Effort Holds Down Marlins in 64-49 loss to EMU

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.—The Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team got off to a cold start Wednesday night and was not quite able to overcome it in the Marlins' matchup against Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) rivals Eastern Mennonite University, falling 64-49.

The Royals started fast with a Jess Rheinheimer three-pointer with 8:48 left in the first, which help key a 12-2 run. The visitors would end the first period with a 20-9 lead and wouldn't look back as they held on to the lead for the duration of the contest.

The Marlins couldn't find their groove from the field in the first half as the Royals defense held VWC to a lowly 23% from the floor.  They eventually finished the contest at 29%, while shooting 17% from behind the arc. Strong first and third periods were key to EMU's success as they outscored the Marlins by 11 and 18 respectively.

The Marlins, however, put up a strong fight in the final stanza led by Kelly Jones who scored 10 points in the period as Virginia Wesleyan outscored EMU 23-7 to cut into the deficit. 

Rheinheimer paced the Royals (12-5/5-4) with 22 points, while shooting 7-11 from the field.  She also added eight rebounds, which led the team as well. Lindsey Krisak also poured in 13 points off the bench with a majority of the damage coming off three three-pointers. 

Jones led the Marlins in scoring with 15 points and also had five rebounds to go along with it. Alexis Platt finished with 14 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double collecting nine. Jaelyn Washington snagged a career-high 10 rebounds.   

Virginia Wesleyan (7-11/5-5) travels to Emory & Henry College (13-4/7-2) Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in another ODAC contest.