BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- Chris Astorga scored 22 points and Donald Vaughn added 20 points to help lead No. 5 ranked Virginia Wesleyan College to a 72-52 Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory over host Bridgewater College on Monday.

Astorga (Suffolk, Va./Virginia Beach Cape Henry Collegiate) hit a three-pointer with 18:38 showing in the first half to give VWC (14-2, 7-1) a 5-2 lead and an advantage the Marlins held the rest of the way.  Virginia Wesleyan led 34-23 at halftime and used a 9-2 scoring run at the start of the second half to build the spread to 43-25. VWC's lead grew to 51-30 with 11:03 remaining in the game.

A major factor in VWC's victory was board play. The Marlins dominated the glass at both ends of the court and finished with a decisive 52-29 difference in rebounding.  Art Crew (Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette) and Astorga led the Marlins with nine rebounds each.  Rakeem Davis (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) pulled down eight rebounds and D.J. Woodmore (Virginia Beach/Landstown) and Vaughn (Woodbridge, Va./Dumfries Potomac) added six rebounds each.

Astorga and Vaughn complemented their board play with strong shooting efforts.  Vaughn hit 7-of-12 shots and blocked three, and Astorga hit 7-of-14 field goal attempts.

Cody Griffith (Pembroke, Va./Giles County) led Bridgewater (5-13, 2-7 ODAC) with 12 points.  Ed Riddick (Virginia Beach/Kellam) added 10 points and nine rebounds and David Larson (Oak Hill, Va./Oakton) contributed with 10 points.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Wednesday, Jan. 25 hosting the Royals of Eastern Mennonite University in a conference game beginning at 7 p.m.

--AMDG--