SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke built a game-high 11-point lead and withstood a late run to defeat Washington & Lee, 57-54 Friday evening at the Bast Center. The Maroons improved to 10-2, 7-1 in the ODAC. The Generals dropped to 5-7, 4-4 in conference play.

 

Up 51-40 with 7:47 remaining, W&L outscored Roanoke, 14-6 down the stretch to trim its deficit to within three. Kari Pfannenstein scored eight of her 16 points down the stretch including her fourth three-pointer to make it 57-54 with 1:28 left. The Maroons survived two missed three-point attempts as Jordan Gholson (Louisa, VA, Louisa County)pulled down the final rebound to end the Generals late run.

 

Gholson finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth career double-double, second this season. Her two blocked shots tonight gives her 139 for her career, one shy of tying the school-record held by Megan Harrigan (Fairport, NY, Fairport)'99.

 

Caitlyn Long (Roanoke, VA, Cave Spring)had 12 points, 3-of-6 from beyond the arc along with five rebounds. She passed Katrina Williams (Salem, VA, Glenvar)'03 for third in career three-pointers with 153. She needs four more points to eclipse 1,000 for her career. Nicci Moats (Blue Ridge, VA, Lord Botetourt)added eight points and four rebounds, all in the first half, with a season-best four assists.

 

Becca Bolton finished with 15 points, four assists and a game-high 15 rebounds to lead Washington & Lee. Rachel Warrick chipped in eight points and four rebounds along with three assists.

 

With Roanoke up nine in the first six minutes of play, W&L went on a 7-2 run to cut the Maroons lead to four. Warrick scored four points during that span to make it 17-13 with 11:27 left in the half.

 

Roanoke built an 11-point lead, 27-16 and were shooting 54.1% from the floor with 7:50 left.  But eight missed shots and four Roanoke fouls helped W&L climb back into the contest. The Generals finished the half on a 12-3 run to close to within two with just over a minute remaining. Kendra Porter (Jamestown, NC, Dudley)then drained a three to send her team to the locker room, clinging to a 33-28 lead.

 

W&L continued its momentum into the second half with back-to-back three-pointers by Pfannenstein to give her team its first lead of the game, 34-33. Long answered as she sparked a 10-0 run, scoring the final eight points to give the Maroons a commanding 43-34 lead with 12:30 left in regulation.

 

The women return to action tomorrow in Harrisonburg, VA against Eastern Mennonite in ODAC action. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

 

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