VIRGINIA BEACH -- Virginia Wesleyan College's women's basketball Marlins were back in form Saturday to produce an impressive 60-35 Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory over Washington and Lee University and in the process give head coach Stephany Dunmyer a milestone 175th career victory.

Dunmyer, who has garnered all 175 victories in 11 seasons at VWC, is the winningest women's basketball coach in the College's history.  She has guided Marlin teams to four ODAC championship games in the past seven years.

Saturday's win at the Jane P. Batten Student Center was particularly satisfying, as the Marlins were able to shake off a recent 55-36 loss to Eastern Mennonite University and remain tied for the top spot in the league standings.  VWC is now 11-4 overall tied with Lynchburg College and EMU for first place with a 5-1 ODAC record.

"I am very proud of our team and our ability to bounce back following Wednesday's loss," said Dunmyer. "This team has already overcome a lot of adversity this season.  They work hard and truly care about the program which makes every day enjoyable."

Saturday was definitely enjoyable for Virginia Wesleyan, as nine of the 10 Marlins who stepped onto the Donald M. Forsyth court produced points. Juniors Nancy Kelly (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney) and Brittany Glasco (Fredericksburg/Massaponax), and sophomore Cassie Conley (New Market/Stonewall Jackson)scored 10 points each to lead the balanced offensive attack. Glasco finished with a double-double, yanking down 10 rebounds. Katie Tassa (Bristow/Manassas Osbourn Park)also recorded 10 rebounds for VWC, which outboarded the Generals 48-38.

Virginia Wesleyan bolted out to a 7-0 start and maintained control the rest of the way. Samantha Sharman (Huntersville, N.C./Hopewell) scored back-to-back baskets to pull Washington and Lee (3-10, 1-5) within seven points, 15-8, at the 10:46 point of the first half, but got no closer.  VWC outscored the Generals 21-4 to end the half, holding the Generals scoreless for the final 3:10 of the half. 

Sophomore Kelly Jones (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) nailed a triple and rookies Crystal Strother (Accokeek, Md./Brandywine Gwynn Park) and Alexis Platt (Virginia Beach/Princess Anne)scored a pair of baskets each in that final three-minute span to help Virginia Wesleyan open up a 36-12 lead at the break.  Both Platt and Strother finished with season-best efforts, scoring seven and six points, respectively.

VWC's pressuring defense helped keep the Generals in check throughout the second half.  Washington and Lee traded baskets early in the half with the Marlins, but could not find a field goal for nearly nine minutes after that. Katie Wildes (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy Academy) scored on a layup to end that stretch, but the Marlins led 53-26.

Wildes led Washington and Lee in scoring with 11 points, helped by a 7-of-8 showing from the free throw stripes.  Sharman finished with 10 points. Shelbi Hendricks (Louisville, Ky./Kentucky Country Day) led the Generals on the boards with eight rebounds.

VWC recorded 21 assists, led by Glasco with six, Kerri Taylor (Stockport, England/The Hill School, Pa.) with five, and Jones with four.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Wednesday, Jan. 22, hosting Shenandoah University at 7 p.m. in ODAC action at the Jane P. Batten Center.

--AMDG--