Fourth Period Surge Downs Marlins in Season Opener

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team led the entire contest until the 2:54 mark in the game when Salisbury University took its first lead, holding on for a 61-57 victory over the Marlins in the season opener Saturday.

The Marlins jumped out to an early 17-10 lead after the first quarter behind the hot shooting of Crystal Strother. The junior had seven of Virginia Wesleyan's points in the period. VWC did a good job of moving the ball around and getting open opportunities. The defense did its part as well, forcing the Sea Gulls into multiple turnovers without a chance to set up a half-court defense.

That defense got even tighter in the second quarter as the Marlins led by just four as Josephine Noonan scored on a traditional three-point play to cut the VWC lead to 19-15 at 7:54. The Marlins held Salisbury without a made basket for the next 5:50 when Paige Bryce knocked down a jumper to pull the Sea Gulls back to within nine at 31-22.

Salisbury kept within striking distance, not trailing by double-figures again the rest of the way.

The Marlins led 54-47 with 7:53 to play when Strother knocked down another crucial three-pointer off an Alexis Platt assist.

Noonan answered with a layup, and following a steal by Morgan Grubb, Megan Konig hit a jumper to cut the deficit to 54-51.

VWC had a chance to extend the lead back to five, but a missed jumper was corralled by Julia McLaughlin who converted a jumper on the other end for the narrow, one-point deficit.

The Marlins led 55-53 with 3:38 remaining in the game when Lauren Rothfeld put away a second-chance opportunity after the Sea Gulls grabbed two offensive rebounds. It was the first tie of the contest since the squads were tied at zero.

McLaughlin was instrumental in putting the Sea Gulls in front, grabbing a rebound on a missed Marlin layup, racing up the floor, and feeding Noonan for a bank shot in the paint and the lead that would not be relinquished.

Salisbury outscored the Marlins 18-8 in the final quarter.

McLaughlin led Salisbury (1-0) with 22 points and 19 rebounds while Noonan ended the day with 17 points and five boards.

Strother finished with 16 for the Marlin team lead on 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Kelly Jones posted 15 points and a team-leading four assists for the marlins while Naeemah Morris tallied seven boards off the bench.

Virginia Wesleyan (0-1) travels to Salem College Tuesday for a 6 p.m. non-conference matchup.