Third Quarter Dooms Marlins against Roanoke

SALEM, Va. -- The Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team was outscored 20-9 in the third quarter as Roanoke College won 74-69 Sunday in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener for both teams.

Virginia Wesleyan carried a 38-31 lead into halftime behind 21 first-half points from Kelly Jones, Alexis Platt, and NiAsia Caldwell.

The Marlins extended the lead in the third quarter to 41-33 on a traditional three-point play from Naeemah Morris, but the hosts went on a 14-0 run to command a 47-41 edge. Five different Maroons scored during the rally.

Trailing 60-55 in the fourth quarter, VWC charged back on a layup by Alexis Platt followed by a basket by Crystal Strother on the team's next possession. Raya Berkley added a pair of free throws with 4:10 left to net the Marlins another lead, 61-60.

The two squads went back and forth for the next three minutes, including three ties. The last of which occurred when a Jayla Harris jumper made the score 67-67 with 1:46 to play. Jamella Foster answered with a layup for another two-point Roanoke lead. Following a pair of empty possessions for the Marlins, Carly Beahm scored in close for a four-point Maroon edge.

Harris tried to close the gap, making it 71-69 Roanoke on a basket with 14 seconds left, but Roanoke connected on 3-of-4 free throws to preserve the win.

Beahm led Roanoke (1-4/1-0 ODAC) with 20 points along with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Kelsey Smith contributed 16 points off the bench while tying for the team-high with four assists.

Strother finished with 13 points for the Marlins while Jones ended with 12 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Caldwell finished with six points and an assist in her first game back from injury.

Virginia Wesleyan (2-4/0-1) will travel to Lynchburg College (3-2/1-0) Saturday for a 2 p.m. ODAC start.