Posted: Jan 15, 2014
The Maroons are now on a four game win streak, its first since the 2010-11 season, where the team finished 19-8 and and advanced to the ODAC Championship game.
Four of Roanoke's five starters scored in double digits. Paxton Gwin, who has put up double figures every game this season, dropped in 21 points. This is her fourth 20-point game of the season, shooting 7-14 from the field and adding a team high eight rebounds. Kelsey Smith added 16 points to the cause, hitting 6-11 on the night. Laurel Hankins scored 13 points, with a team-high tying eight rebounds as well. Tatum McKee also finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, plus an added four steals. Bridget Holleran narrowly missed the double digit club on the evening, scoring nine points, but her career-high eight assists added to the team's success. Holleran's eight assists are the most by a Roanoke player in a game this season.
Roanoke led from the first 15 seconds of the game as Kelsey Smith opened the scoring for the Maroons with a jumper. Roanoke started the first three minutes of the game with a 7-2 run, with a layup from Gwin and a trey from McKee. The Wasps came back with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 7-7, with 15:48 to play in the half. However, that would be the last time the game would be tied as Gwin scored just few seconds later to give the Maroons the advantage again.
The Maroons extended their lead to eight with 6:01 to play in the first half as McKee hit a layup to make the score 25-17. Moments later, Roanoke pushed the advantage higher as Hankins knocked down a pair of free throws to build the advantage to nine, 29-20. In the final two minutes of the half, McKee and Gwin scored four points each, as Roanoke ended the period with a twelve-point 39-27 advantage.
The Wasps cut at the lead in the opening minutes of the first half, outscoring the Maroons 7-2. At the 18:0 minute mark, Roanoke was ahead 41-34. Over the next four minutes, Roanoke went on the offensive again, outscoring the Wasps 13-5, taking a 15-point lead in the contest. Each time Emory & Henry started to chip away at the deficit, Roanoke responded with baskets of its own. The Wasps did cut the lead to five with 5:37 to play in the contest, as Tenesha Connor made a layup to make the score 61-56. However, on the next possession, Gwin drained a three to bring the lead back to eight points. In the final two minutes of the game, Roanoke outscored Emory & Henry 9-4, rolling to its 78-66 ODAC victory.
Roanoke outshot Emory & Henry, narrowly, 41.7 to 39.7 percent from the field, while the Wasps led in both three point and free throw percentage. The Maroons held the rebound advantage, 43-36. Emory and Henry gained 26 of its 66 points from the bench as well.
The Maroons return to action on Saturday, January 18th as they face off against Bridgewater College. On that day, there will be a Maroon Club reception for the men's and women's doubleheader against Bridgewater. The reception, hosted by Ben Halterman '01 and Jeff Smith, will take place at Boitnot Hall during halftime of both events and between games as well. For more information on the event, click here.
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