The 9-2 record ties for the best start for the Maroons since 1998-99 season. The 61-60 decision provided sweet revenge for the 63-60 season-ending loss to the Marlins in the 2007-08 ODAC semifinal game.

 

Gholson, the team leader in scoring, had 18 points and 10 rebounds in her sixth game in double-figures this season. She also recorded six blocks to tie her career-high and moved her into sixth on the all-time career list at Roanoke. She passed Sarah Dingledine '00 (71) with 73 career blocks.

  

Roanoke out-rebounded VWC 37-34 and had an advantage in points off turnovers (12-11), points in the paint (36-22), and bench points (12-4). The Marlins outscored the Maroons 14-12 off of second chance points. Roanoke improved in the second half as it shot 51.7% from the field.

 

Gholson hit a jumper to open the scoring. Virginia Wesleyan's Jill Weston responded with a three pointer to take a 3-2 lead. The Marlins then went on a 4-0 run to increase the lead to three.

 

At the 14:09 minute mark, Roanoke answered with a 7-0 run to make the score 11-7. Two Marlin layups tied the game at 11 with 9:58 left in the half. Three more ties ensued before Caitlyn Long drained a three pointer to give Roanoke a 24-21 lead with 2:15 remaining. Kristina Jameson added three points for the Marlins and Long answered with a jumper. The Maroon lead was brief as Jordan Neville scored on a tip-in to tie the score 26-26 before the half.

 

Jaleesa Osborne scored first in the second half followed by a layup from Long to give Roanoke a five point edge (31-26). The Maroons maintained the lead until 14:43 when Tonia Jones banked in a layup. 

Two-pointers from Gholson and VWC's Jocelyn Spencer made the score 41-39 VWC. Virginia Anne Hagood swished a three pointer with 12:43 remaining to give Roanoke a one point advantage (42-41). 

 

The Maroons upheld the lead until the 6:04 mark when Jill Weston hit one from downtown for three points. Tied at 52, senior Erin Jenkins connected from three-point territory to give the women a three point edge. Andrea Ushinski retaliated by scoring one of VWC's six threes of the half.

 

Gholson scored her sixth layup of the night with 2:52 left to play to make the score 57-55. The Marlins connected on a three pointer from Jameson and a shot from inside the paint from Jones for a three point lead. Gholson sealed the game for the Maroons as she sank two free-throws and a layup with forty seconds on the clock. Roanoke's defense held the Marlins as time expired.

 

Ushinski led the Marlins with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Also scoring in double-figures for VWC was Jones with 11.  Maggie Smith added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists before fouling out with 1:26 left to play.  Jones and Smith combined for eight boards.

 

Long was 2-for-3 from beyond the arc in the victory to move her into sixth place all time in three pointers made. She is also six in three pointers attempted with 286. Hagood tied her season-high of seven rebounds.

 

The women will travel to Lexington on Friday to face Washington & Lee, currently 3-2 in the ODAC, and 3-6 overall. The Maroons are 26-3 all-time against the Generals. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

 

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