Posted: Feb 25, 2010
SALEM, VA - Top-seeded Roanoke College advanced in the ODAC Tournament with an 88-64 win over Lynchburg in the quarterfinal round on Thursday afternoon at the Salem Civic Center. The Maroons improved their record to 23-2, while the Hornets season ends at 7-19.
The Maroons, who are ranked second in the latest NCAA Div. III South Region poll, jumped out to a 12-4 lead over the first three minutes of the contest, fueled by seven points from Jordan Gholson (Louisa, VA, Louisa County). Lynchburg responded with a run of its own, cutting the RC lead to one at 16-15 with 12:54 remaining in the first half.
Roanoke, which received votes in this week's D3hoops.com women's basketball poll, finished the half on a 32-12 run, posting a 21-point advantage at halftime to lead 48-27. Gholson led the RC charge with 16 points and 11 boards, while Tamara Snead paced LC with 12 points in the first half.
After intermission, Roanoke pushed its lead to as much as 29 points, going on a 15-5 run. Kylie Lucas' free throw capped the run to make it 64-34 with 12:33 left in regulation. The Hornets cut the lead to 15 with four minutes left, but the Maroons finished the game with a 13-4 run to give the final result.
The 88 points tied for the highest scoring output of the season, scoring over 80 points for only the third time this winter. It's the most points scored against Lynchburg since the 1999-00 season (91), as the Maroons improved to 64-8 all-time vs. The Hornets. It is the 14th win in the last 15 meetings, five-straight since 2008.
Roanoke was led with Gholson's fourth double-double of the season, with a season-high of 20 points and career-high 17 rebounds. She added four blocks to give her an ODAC-leading 55 on the year, which is second on the single-season list at Roanoke.
First-team All-ODAC performer Caitlyn Long (Roanoke, VA, Cave Spring)knocked down five three-pointers for 17 points to go with six boards. The five treys was one shy of tying the ODAC Tournament record and tied a career-high. Her 1,146 career points are 10 shy of passing Mary Beth Harvey (Chester, VA)'84 for ninth on the all-time list at Roanoke.
Kendra Porter (Jamestown, NC, Dudley)and Kylie Lucas (Verona, VA, Fort Defiance)came off the bench to pour in 12 and 10 points, respectively. Nicci Moats (Blue Ridge, VA, Lord Botetourt)tied a career-best five blocked shots to give her 46 on the season, which moved her up to sixth on the single-season list at Roanoke.
Lynchburg was led by 17 points and eight rebounds of Snead, and Falls finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Carly Greenliefhit four of her five shots for 10 points.
The Maroons shot 46-percent (34-74) from the floor for the contest, knocking down eight from three-point land. The nation's 11th best defense held Lynchburg to 21-of-66 (31.8%) from the floor, and won the rebounding battle 52-39, which was their fourth game with 50-plus rebounds. Roanoke tied a season-high with 21 assists, outscored LC in the paint, 38-20, and held a 18-9 second chance points advantage.
The Maroons advance to play Virginia Wesleyan in the ODAC Semifinal Round on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center. Roanoke won both meetings against the Marlins this season.
