BRIDGEWATER - The Roanoke College women's basketball team fell in their 2012 opener against Bridgewater, 73-60 on Tuesday.  The Maroons fall to 1-7, 1-3 ODAC, and Bridgewater rises to 5-3, and 3-2 in ODAC play.

Bridgewater opened the contest scoring with Jessica Mullen scoring the first four points for the Eagles.  Roanoke quickly responded with a Nicci Moats basket and a Laurel Hankins to take the lead by one.  The teams would trade the lead until the Eagles ultimately took the lead off a Mullen three-pointer.  Bridgewater extended its lead to as many as 14-points, and finished the first half leading 43-33.

Roanoke came out of the half scoring the first bucket of the period with a Hankins layup after the first minute to cut the lead to eight.  Both teams scored back and forth over the next five minutes until the Eagles found themselves up 14 points after a Katelynn Hottinger free throw to earn a 52-38 lead.  The Maroons proceded to go on a 9-4 run over the next five minutes and cut the lead to nine at the 8:00 minute mark.  Roanoke continued to battle, with 4:26 to go, Moats hit a layup to cut to the deficit to five, 61-56.  But the Maroons couldn't hold on as the Eagles built their lead back up to 13 by the final buzzer, defeating Roanoke 73-60

Hankins led the Maroons with 14 points.  Two other players scored in double-digits including Moats, who notched 11 points and 13 rebounds in 20 minutes of play, and Paxton Gwin netted 10 points on the night.  Jessica Mullen led the Eagles with 27 points.

The Maroons return to action on Friday, January 6th, as they play host to Washington and Lee in ODAC action.  The contest is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.

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