Posted: Feb 21, 2009
HARRISONBURG, Va. --- Roanoke defeated Eastern Mennonite, 87-62 at Yoder Arena in its regular season finale Saturday afternoon. The Maroons are now 22-3 overall, 17-3 in the ODAC while the Royals are 13-12, 8-12 in the conference.
The Maroons, who clinched the top-seed in next week's ODAC Tournament, finished the regular season with the best overall (22-3) and road record (11-1) since the 1996-97 season. Roanoke swept EMU for the first time since the 2001-02 season and are now 56-20 in the series since 1970-71.
The 9-2 away record is the best in five years while the 17-3 ODAC mark is the best since the 1998-99 season. It is the 10th time this season that the Maroons have defeated an opponent by at least 25-points.
The women cruised to a commanding 50-33 advantage and never looked back as they locked up a #1 seed in next week's ODAC Tournament. It is the first time the Maroons have been a #1 seed since the 1996-97 season.
With the Maroons up four, 20-16 with 10:39 remaining, they pulled away early on a 21-8 run to increase their lead to 17, 41-20 with 6:10 remaining and never looked back.
Roanoke had five players score in double-figures, led by Caitlyn Long and Jaleesa Osborne with 16 points apiece. Long was 4-of-8 from three-point range and is one shy of tying Suzanne Moore '97 for fifth all-time and tied for eighth in single-season treys (50). She also had five rebounds and five assists. Osborne finished with six assists and five rebounds while shooting 7-of-12 from the floor.
Jordan Gholson chipped in 14 points with five rebounds and two blocked shots while Erin Jenkins and Virginia Anne Hagood tossed in 10 each. Jenkins dished out a career-best seven assists.
The women will be the #1 seed in the ODAC Tournament as they will take on #8 Seed Lynchburg on Thursday. The tournament will be held at the Salem Civic Center Feb. 26-Mar. 1. The Maroons swept the Hornets in the regular season and won 11-straight since 2004. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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