HARRISONBURG, Va. -- A 14-2 run by Virginia Wesleyan College late in Saturday's Old Dominion Athletic Conference women's basketball game put the Marlins back into contention against the host Royals of Eastern Mennonite University.

Junior Beth Ann Boyce (Colonial Heights, Va./Colonial Heights) nailed a big three-pointers in that VWC run that took the Marlins from a 47-31 deficit to a 49-45 game with 6:40 remaining to be played.  But, the host Royals came up with the key scores they needed down the stretch en route to a 59-51 decision.

Junior Shawnee Lewis (Alexandria, Va./Thomas A. Edison)pulled the Marlins within a 52-49 score with 2:54 on the clock, only to see Stephanie Rheinheimer (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) put through a huge triple to give the Royals a 55-49 advantage.  Neither team managed to hit a shot from the field in the final 2:30, but EMU protected its lead from the foul line, hitting 4-of-5 attempts in the final 38 seconds.

The foul lines were good to the Royals (4-4, 3-2) throughout the game, as EMU connected on 18-of-27 attempts.  VWC (4-4, 2-2) hit 6-of-8 free throws overall.  The Marlins outscored EMU 45-31 from the field, helped by five triples, including two each from sophomore Rachael Miller (Sterling, Va./Park View) and Boyce.

Virginia Wesleyan started well in the game, taking a 16-6 lead behind a balanced scoring show.  EMU recovered gradually however, and tied the game at 27 all on a pair of free throws by Brittany Snyder.  The Royals took their first lead of the game on a Shandell Taylor jumper, giving EMU a 29-27 advantage at the break.

The Royals came out refocused in the second half and outscore VWC 18-4 to open up the 47-31 lead.  Virginia Wesleyan came right back however, producing the 14-2 run that made it anyone's ballgame for the final seven minutes.

Lewis paced Virginia Wesleyan scoring with 13 points.

Kala Yoders (Myerstown, Pa./Eastern Lebanon County) led EMU with 13 points.  Rheinheimer finished with 10 points.

Virginia Wesleyan closes the 2010 portion of its schedule on Thursday, Dec. 30, hosting Christopher Newport University at 7 p.m.

--AMDG--