The Basics
Score: Roanoke 59 | Bridgewater 56    
Records: Maroons 14-2 / 9-0 ODAC | Eagles 8-9 / 5-5 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va.

The Lead: Saturday was Roanoke College Women's Basketball Alumni Day at the Cregger Center when the Maroons hosted Bridgewater. The alums in attendance, honored at halftime, were treated to a close Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) affair. The Eagles enjoyed a double-digit lead at the break and held that lead until a late Roanoke rally would see the Maroons come back for the 59-56 win.  

How it Happened:

• The lead was traded for the first few minutes of the matchup. Rose Sande hit a 3-point field goal to put the Maroons in front, 5-4. However, Bridgewater scored nine of the next 11 and with just over two-minutes to go in the opening frame, held a 13-7 edge.
• Roanoke got to within three but a late Eagle bucket saw the visitors in front, 15-10.
• The Maroons opened the second quarter with a 9-0 run. Renee Alquiza scored from long range to make it 16-15 and a Whitney Hopson triple grew the RC advantage to 19-15.
• The final eight minutes of the first half would belong to Bridgewater as they took over the game with a 22-7 run to close the second period and take a 37- 26 lead into the half.
• At the 6:16 mark of the third, the Eagles held their largest lead of the afternoon, 44-30. Alquiza hit a three out of a timeout to help spark and Roanoke rally. With 2:00 on the clock, a free throw by Ayanna Scarborough would cap a 13-2 Maroon surge that would see the BC lead cut to three, 46-43.
• Trailing 50-45 heading into the final quarter, Roanoke started the period with a Morgan Micallef layup and a Scarborough layup to make it 50-49 with just over seven-minutes remaining in the game.
• Mid-way through the final stanza, Bridgewater enjoyed a 54-49 lead. The Maroons would allow just two more BC points the rest of the way as they mounted a late rally. An Alquiza three-ball and Scarborough layup would knot the game at 54-54. Hopson scored in transition to give Roanoke their first lead of the second half with 2:00 left to play.
• An offensive board by Scarborough led to an Alquiza jump shot. Kristina Harrel picked up a steal and a pair of offensive rebounds extended the possession for the Maroons as the game entered the closing minute. Bridgewater had a chance but a turnover with :09 would just about seal their fate. A Harrel free throw would give RC the final tally of 59-56.
• Alquiza was 4-6 from long range and led all scorers with 18. Micallef had 12 while Hopson and Scarborough added 10 apiece. Hopson grabbed three rebounds to go with six assists, and seven steals.

Up next: Roanoke will travel to Lynchburg on Monday night to face Randolph College in a make-up game from earlier in the season. The tip with the Wildcats is scheduled for 7:00pm.