Big Second Half Carries Eagles Past Marlins

BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- The Bridgewater College women's basketball team outscored Virginia Wesleyan 43-22 in the second half to capture a 77-58 victory in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action Tuesday night.

The Marlins trailed 19-15 going into the second quarter, but a 9-0 run but Virginia Wesleyan in front. Kellen Phillips started the run before Jayla Harris knocked down a pair of three-pointers for a 22-19 lead. A Phillips' layup extend the lead to 24-19 and capped off the run.

Virginia Wesleyan led by as many as nine points in the second period, leading 36-28 with 2:31 until half on a Harris three.

Bridgewater closed the half on an 6-0 run, swinging momentum to the home team, something that would carry over to the second half.

Three-straight layups by Jessalyn Monday, Jessica Lam, and Sydni Carey cut the deficit to 36-34 heading into the break.

Bridgewater scored the first basket out of intermission to tie up the game, but the Marlins went back up five on another Harris three and two free throws by Crystal Strother.

The Eagles closed the quarter on a 17-7 run before scoring seven of the first nine points of the fourth quarter to pull away.

Monday led Bridgewater (12-11/8-7) with 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench while Lam tallied 14 points and Cassidy Burkholder added 13 points and nine boards.

Harris finished with a game-high 20 points on four three-pointers as Strother added five points, seven boards, and five assists.

The win clinches a first-round ODAC tournament home game for the Eagles. The Marlins have a chance to host still, but will need some help from several other teams.

Virginia Wesleyan (8-15/6-9) travels to Guilford College (18-3/12-2) Saturday for a 2 p.m. start in the regular season finale.