VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. --- Roanoke responded quickly after Friday night's loss to Randolph-Macon to defeat Virginia Wesleyan, 66-57 at the Batten Center Saturday afternoon. The Maroons improved to 9-2, 6-1 in the ODAC while the Marlins dropped to 7-5, 3-3 in conference play.

 

Battling through a season-worst 26 turnovers, Roanoke's won with their defense, out-rebounding Virginia Wesleyan, 41-27 and held the Marlins to a mere 25% shooting on the afternoon. The Maroons shot 43.9% from the field, including a much better 26-of-30 (86.7%) from the free throw line compared to just 63.6% last night against Randolph-Macon.

 

Up only five at the half, Roanoke scored the first seven points of the second half to build the largest lead of the game, 36-24 with 17:54 remaining. Caitlyn Long (Roanoke, VA, Cave Spring)hit a three-pointer followed by two free-throws and a made jumper by Jordan Gholson (Louisa, VA, Louisa County)to give the Maroons a 12-point advantage.

 

Virginia Wesleyan slowly chipped away at the Maroons lead and sliced it to four, after a three-pointer by Beth Ann Boyce to make it, 46-42 with 9:59 left. With 5:39 remaining, Kristina Jameson hit a big three-pointer to make it, 53-50 as they clawed their way back into the game.

 

Kendra Porter (Jamestown, NC, Dudley)sparked an 8-1 run over the next 2:32 scoring four-straight points. Gholson scored off an assist from Rebecca Bays (Roanoke, VA, William Byrd)to make the score, 61-51 with 3:07 remaining to keep the Marlins at bay.

 

Long made all four of her free throw attempts down the stretch to help clinch the Maroons ninth win of the season.

 

Roanoke was led by Long with a season-high 17 points, including 3-of-4 from three-point range and 6-for-6 from the line. She also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds for the second-straight night. She enters the next game needing only 16 points to eclipse the 1,000-point mark to become only the 15^th player at Roanoke to reach that milestone.  She also tied Katrina Williams (Salem, VA, Glenvar)'03 for third all-time in career three-pointers made (150).

 

Gholson finished with 16 points including 6-of-6 from the line in addition to four rebounds and a blocked shot. She needs three more blocked shots to become the school's all-time leader (137). Porter added 10 points and four rebounds, shooting 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. 

 

Nicci Moats (Blue Ridge, VA, Lord Botetourt)had four points, eight rebounds and a season-high four blocked shots. Jaleesa Osborne (Ordinary, VA, Gloucester)had seven points, five rebounds and three steals. She needs five assists to move into third all-time and five steals to pass Amy Saunders (Roanoke, VA, Patrick Henry Hs)'93 for second all-time. Kylie Lucas (Verona, VA, Fort Defiance)chipped in eight points and four boards.

 

Kristen Blalock and Rachel Miller led VWC with 11 points each. Tonia Jones tossed in nine counters for the Marlins.

 

The women are back at home this Friday, Jan. 15 as they host Washington & Lee at the Bast Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

 

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