Marlins Fall in ODAC Opener to Lynchburg

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- The Virginia Wesleyan University women's basketball team fell 64-54 to conference power Lynchburg College in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener for both teams on Thursday.

Lynchburg led the duration of the contest, taking advantage of a 46.9% shooting effort for the game. The Hornet defense held the Marlin offense in check as VWU shot 31.5% for the game while going just 2-for-17 from three-point range.

The LC defense held star guard Jayla Harris to just four points, forcing several other Marlins to step up to fill the void. Senior Naeemah Morris scored a season-high 10 points in just 13 minutes of action to lead the team. Raya Berkley posted seven points and a team-high six rebounds while Reagan Holmes tallied eight points off the bench.

The Marlins stayed within single digits for most of the contest, in large part to an 85.7% (18-for-21) effort at the free throw line.

Caroline Naumann posted one of the most impressive efforts in the ODAC this season to lead Lynchburg (5-1/1-0). She scored 30 points while pulling down 11 rebounds, dishing out two assists, and making three steals. Brittany Afolabi-Brown contributed a double-double of her own with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Virginia Wesleyan (2-4/0-1) host The Apprentice School (2-4) for a non-conference contest Saturday at 2 p.m.