ASHLAND, Va. -- There were not a lot points scored in a three-minute span late in Saturday's women's basketball game at Randolph-Macon College, but the host Yellow Jackets tallied just enough to pad its lead against the Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan College.

Back-to-back layups by VWC's Kristen Blalock (Suffolk, Va./Portsmouth Christian) and Shawnee Lewis (Alexandria, Va./Thomas A. Edison)kept the Marlins in contention, trailing just 46-39 with 8:37 remaining in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference game at the Crenshaw Gymnasium.

But, while VWC managed only two shots and turned the ball over three times in the next three minutes, the Jackets outscored the Marlins 7-1 to open up a 53-40 lead with 5:36 on the clock.  R-MC led by double digits the rest of the way to post a 67-53 victory.

Virginia Wesleyan (9-9, 7-6) led through the majority of the first half, jumping in front 9-6 when senior Kristina Jameson (Harrisonburg, Va./Broadway) nailed a triple with 13:40 on the clock. Timely scoring by Kerry Johnson (Richmond, Va./J.R. Tucker) and Rachael Miller (Sterling, Va./Park View)helped the Marlins stay in front until Taylor Wieczorek (Grasonville, Md./Severn) nailed a pair of free throws to push R-MC in front with 3:48 remaining in the half.

Four consecutive points by Blalock pulled VWC within three points with 19 seconds on the clock, but Wieczorek scored late to give the Jackets a 28-23 lead at halftime. Blalock and Lewis hit key baskets early in the second half  for the Marlins, who came up with key scores through the first 12 minutes to keep the score close until R-MC's 7-1 run.

Blalock finished with 17 points to lead VWC scoring, followed by Lewis with 10 points.  Lewis also led rebounding with six.

Wieczorek tallied 16 for R-MC, which also received 13 points each from Molly Brown (Floyd, Va./Floyd County) and Maggie Roy (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin).  Wieczorek also pulled down 14 rebounds.

R-MC hit 27-of-36 free throws, while VWC connected on 15-of-20.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again Friday, Feb. 4, at Emory & Henry College at 7 p.m.

--AMDG--