Record Night by Harris Leads Marlins to Victory

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Sophomore Jayla Harris scored a career-high 35 points Tuesday night to rally the Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team back from a halftime deficit to defeat Ferrum College, 65-63.

Harris' 35 points are the most by a Marlin since Amy Simpson scored 35 against N.C. Wesleyan on January 23, 1986. Only three times has someone scored more than 35 in a game for VWC, led by Joanette Lowery, who scored 40 in a game at Chowan in 1978.

The Marlins trailed 29-22 at halftime after being outshot 40.7% to 23.3% in the first half. Virginia Wesleyan got hot after the break, shooting 56% from the field and 66.7% (10-15) from three-point land.

The Marlins cut the seven-point Ferrum lead to three twice late in the half, on a three pointer by Harris, and again just before the period ended on a pair of Harris free throws.

The fourth quarter started out the way of the Panthers as Zarkia Mattox scored five straight points to open the period and push Ferrum back out to a 51-46 lead with 8:57 to play.

Virginia Wesleyan answered with an 8-1 run over the next three minutes to go up 54-52 with 6:08 to play. NiAsia Caldwell hit a three off a Harris assist before Harris added a jumper and three-pointer of her own to cap the run.

Ferrum tried to cut into the lead, but the Marlins connected on three made trifectas in four tries to keep the lead, 63-58. Harris connected on two threes, while Crystal Strother posted the other on a Harris assist.

Trailing 64-60 with 41 seconds to play, Kelli Mounce connected from deep to cut the Marlin lead to one point. Following a defensive stop, the Panthers could not connect from deep. Megan Sherman grabbed the rebound and connected on one from the free throw line to ice the game.

Mattox had 19 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists for Ferrum (2-2), while Brooke Lewis tallied a team-high 21 points.

Sherman joined Harris in double figures with a career-high 12 points on three made trifectas. Harris added five rebounds and four assists for the Marlins.

Virginia Wesleyan (2-2) travels to Hollins University Sunday for the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener for both teams.