SALEM – Paxton Gwin rattled of a game-high 25 points in the Roanoke's victory over Old Dominion Athletic Conference leader Virginia Wesleyan, 63-58 on Saturday.  The Maroons rise to 8-16 8-12 in the ODAC, earning the seventh-place spot in the conference tournament.  The Marlins fall to 20-5, 17-3 in ODAC play.
 
Roanoke jumped out in the lead early in this crucial contest, as the Maroons led 14-7 after the first 10 minutes of play.  Virginia Wesleyan responded with a 7-0 run, including five points from Shawnee Lewis. 
 
Coming down the stretch in the first half, the Maroons picked up the effort, taking a five-point lead, 22-17 off five straight points from Paxton Gwin.   The Marlins finished the half on an 11-3 run, entering the locker rooms ahead 28-25, with 20 to play.
 
Both teams traded baskets to open the second stanza, with Virginia Wesleyan holding their three point lead for the first 10 minutes of the second half.  At 10:44, Kayla Lemke hit two free throws which would start a 6-0 run to give the Maroons their first lead of the second half, 45-43.
 
With 5:10 to play, Shawnee Lewis hit a free throw to tie the game at 54-54.  Over the next four minutes, the Maroons went on a 7-2 run that gave them the lead that would ultimately win the game.  The Marlins had few chances down the stretch but couldn't them to fall, and Roanoke came away with the win 63-58.
 
Roanoke outshot Wesleyan 44% to 38% and led in rebounds 35-31.  The Marlins forced more turnovers as Roanoke gave the ball away 20 times to Wesleyan's 17.
 
Gwin led the Maroons with 25 points and nine rebounds.  Tatum McKee tied Gwin in rebounds with nine and acquired a team high three steals.  Rachel Dellahunt led the team with four assists.
 
Sarah Seipp led the Marlins, going 7-19 for  17 points and six rebounds.  Shawnee Lewis finished with 12 points and three assists.
 
The team will face off against second-seeded Eastern Mennonite in a third meeting in the quarterfinal round of the ODAC Tournament on Thursday, February 23^rd.   That matchup is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM.
 
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