BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- Whistles were almost more consistent than play on the court Thursday as Bridgewater College's women's basketball team pinned an 81-70 upset on Virginia Wesleyan College's Marlins in Old Dominion Athletic Conference competition at BC's Nininger Hall.

A total of 43 fouls were charged, 27 against VWC, sending Bridgewater to the foul lines 41 times.  The host Eagles took advantage of the situation, connecting 33 times.  Virginia Wesleyan made it to the stripes 16 times and hit 11.

Virginia Wesleyan (12-6, 6-3) led 34-31 at halftime, and owned a 39-36 advantage after rookie Crystal Strother (Accokeek, Md./Brandywine Gwynn Park) hit a jumper with 16:33 remaining to be played in the second half.  The Eagles took the lead however, after Molly Shelley (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) and Jessi Strom (Salem/Glenvar) hit back-to-back shots to take a 41-39 lead.

The Marlins played close for several minutes, but could never grab the lead.  Bridgewater made only on field goal in the final 5:55 of the game, but protected and padded its lead by hitting 15-of-15 free throws.  Jessica Lam (Elkton/East Rockingham) led that effort by hitting 6-of-6.

Virginia Wesleyan started off well, taking a 19-9 lead behind balanced scoring led by junior Brittany Glasco (Fredericksburg/Massaponax) and sophomore Kelly Jones (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) with six points each.  VWC extended its lead to 28-15, before Bridgewater started to answer.  The Eagles outscored the Marlins 16-6 in the five five minutes of the half to cut Virginia Wesleyan's lead to 34-31 at halftime.

The Eagles picked up in the second half where they left off in the first, building a 37-36 lead before Jones hit a triple and Strother followed with a jumper to return the lead to VWC at 39-36. Bridgewater sparked an 8-0 run minutes later to take the lead for good.

Junior Nancy Kelly (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney)hit 6-of-6 field goal attempts en route to leading the Marlins with 15 points.  Glasco connected on 5-of-8 shots and finished with 14 points, followed by Jones with 13 points, and Strother with a career-high 12 points. Jones connected on 5-of-9 shots, hitting three triples.

Glasco recorded a double-double, adding 10 rebounds to her 14 points.  Senior Katie Tassa (Bristow/Manassas Osbourn Park) also pulled down 10 rebounds to help the Marlins to a 40-39 edge on the backboards overall.

The Marlins hit seven triples, recorded 15 assists and 12 steals, but were hampered by the fouls and 26 turnovers.

Heather Cantrell (Singers Glen/Broadway) and Shelley finished with 15 points each.  While both Eagles hit 4-of-8 field goal attempts, Shelley connected on 7-of-8 free throws and Cantrell hit 7-of-9. Cassidy Burkholder (Bridgewater/Turner Ashby) and Strom scored 13 points each and Holly Morgan (Staunton/Buffalo Gap) finished with 12.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m. hosting Randolph College in ODAC competition.

--AMDG--