SALISBURY, Md. -- Virginia Wesleyan College senior Kerri Taylor hit a timely triple with 2:04 remaining in Saturday's non-conference at Salisbury University to pull the visiting Marlins within a 58-52 score.

But, the host Sea Gulls hit 13-of-14 free throws in the final 1:54 to protect their lead en route to a 71-61 victory at the Maggs Center.

Free throw shooting was key in the win for Salisbury (4-0) as the host team hit 28-of-36 attempts, led by a 14-of-16 showing by Anna Hackett (Germantown, Md./Clarksburg).  Virginia Wesleyan (1-2) hit 13-of-14 free throws as a team.

Hackett combined her free throw shooting with a 9-of-14 effort from the field en route to scoring a game-high 33 points.  She helped moved Salisbury into an early 10-point lead, but VWC responded with scoring from seniors Brittany Glasco (Fredericksburg/Massaponax) and Andrea Paphites (Virginia Beach/Princess Anne) to pull within four points midway through the first half.

Junior Kelly Jones (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) connected on a big triple to pull the Marlins within a 21-18 score with 6:21 remaining to be played in the half, but VWC hit a cold spell to close out.  While the Marlins managed only two field goals in the final six minutes, Salisbur scored enough to pull away for a 32-22 lead at the break.

Paphites, Glasco and Taylor (Stockport, England/Pottstown, Pa. Hill School) produced a strong effort for VWC in the first four minutes of the second half as the Marlins cut the Salisbury lead to 38-35.  The Marlins remained within striking distance the rest of the way, trailing only 58-52 with 2:04 to play, before Salisbury's free throws created breathing room for the Gulls.

Glasco turned in a career-high 24 points for Virginia Wesleyan, hitting 10-of-20 field goal attempts overall.  She also dished out a game-high five assists. Paphites helped the Marlins with 13 points and Jones finished with 11. Taylor tallied seven points and led VWC rebounding with eight.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again on Tuesday, Nov. 25, playing its first home game of the season starting at 6 p.m.  The Marlins will host the Generals of Washington and Lee University in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

--AMDG--