Caldwell Leads Marlins to Third Straight Win

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Junior NiAsia Caldwell posted a career-high 31 points on Wednesday night to help the Virginia Wesleyan College women's basketball team to a 77-75 non-conference victory at Methodist University.

The 31-point effort by Caldwell was the second 30-point performance by a Marlin in the last three games as Jayla Harris scored 35 against Ferrum College eight days ago.

Methodist controlled the first quarter of the game, lead 18-11 at the end of one. Caldwell had 10 of Virginia Wesleyan's points, making all four attempts from the field. She tacked on the first basket of the second quarter, keeping her perfect mark from the field while netting her 12 of VWC's first 13 points.

Harris began to heat up in the second quarter, helping Caldwell to push the Marlins past the Monarchs. Harris scored nine points in the quarter while Caldwell added 11 to help VWC outscore Methodist 26-15 in the period. Caldwell went 8-11 from the field in the first half to take an impressive 21-point effort into the locker room.

Leading 37-33 to begin the second half, Naeemah Morris and Amanda Gerni tallied layups to extend the lead out to eight points. Methodist kept the game close, but could not take back the lead in the third period.

The game continued to go back and forth with Methodist tying the contest at 63 when Sydney Bryan scored a layup with 5:05 to play.

Gerni struck again to push the Marlins back out in front as Raya Berkley found her for a three-pointer and 66-63 lead.

The Virginia Wesleyan defense held Methodist to just one point over the next 1:30 to help put the game away. Harris poured in four points in that span as the Marlins went up 71-64 with 3:40 to play.

The Monarchs clawed back, getting it to 73-71 on a Jalisia Campbell jumper with 1:57 remaining, but Caldwell answered with a basket on the next Virginia Wesleyan possession. Methodist trailed by no less than four the remainder of the way before a Campbell shot at the buzzer resulted in the final score.

Christian Sanders led Methodist (1-6) with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Lillian Geehring contributed 15 points. Campbell finished with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Harris joined the impressive game by Caldwell with 23 points of her own.

Virginia Wesleyan (4-2/1-0) travels to Randolph College (2-3/0-1) Saturday for a 2 p.m. start in ODAC action.