ASHLAND, Va. -- A valiant comeback by the Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team ran out of steam late in Saturday's game against Catholic University.

Competing in the Randolph-Macon Tip-Off Tournament, the Marlins trailed by 20 points with nine minutes to play but outscored the Cardinals 13-0 in a six minute span to pull within a 59-52 score.

There was still plenty of game to be played with 2:47 on the clock, but the scoring stopped for VWC, which managed only two points the rest of the way.  Catholic outscored the Marlins 7-2 in the final minutes to post a 68-54 non-conference win.

A young Virginia Wesleyan team played well throughout the first half and led 27-22 after senior Rachael Miller (Sterling Park/Park View) nailed off an assist from rookie Kelly Jones (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) with 6:05 remaining in the half.

A veteran Catholic team, boasting seven seniors from a 22-6 team last season, closed out strong with a 20-5 run to open up a 42-32 halftime lead.  Seniors Kellie Josephsen (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) and Jill Woerner (Providence, R.I./St. Mary's Bayview) led the effort with five points each.

Catholic (2-0) scored the first basket of the second half and continued to build on its lead, opening up a 57-37 advantage with 11:11 remaining in the game.  Virginia Wesleyan (0-2) started is comeback on a jumper by rookie Kianna Klauck (Port Colborne, Ontario/Lakeshore Catholic) and extended it with timely scores from Miller, sophomores Brittany Glasco (Fredericksburg/Massaponax) and Andrea Paphites (Virginia Beach/Princess Anne), and a big three from rookie Cassie Conley (New Market/Stonewall Jackson).  Paphites led the surge with six points.

A couple of free throws by Josephsen helped Catholic to stop the VWC run with 1:06 on the clock.  Catholic hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 1:06 to keep the Marlins at bay.

Free throw shooting turned out to be key in the Catholic win as the Cardinals nailed 27-of-37 attempts.  VWC attempted 15 and hit 12.

VWC hit six triples in the game, compared to three by the Cards, and both teams pulled down 47 rebounds.  VWC also came up with 11 steals, led by sophomore Sarah Seipp (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) with four.

Miller finished as the leading scorer for VWC, recording 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.  Her effort included a 4-of-6 showing from three point range.  Seipp added 12 points and Paphites finished with eight.  Junior Katie Tassa (Bristow/Manassas Osbourn Park) and Paphites led the Marlins with seven rebounds each.

Woerner topped Catholic scoring with 21 points. Josephsen added 13 points and eight rebounds.  Six-foot senior Katarina Owunna (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Alvernia) led the Cardinals on the boards with nine rebounds.

Virginia Wesleyan continues its opening season six-game road streak on Tuesday, Nov. 20, in Salisbury, Md., taking on the Sea Gulls (1-1) of Salisbury University at 5:30 p.m.

--AMDG--