VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's basketball team defeated the Hornets from the University of Lynchburg 69-61 on Saturday afternoon at the Jane P. Batten Student Center in Virginia Beach, Va. The Marlins move to 5-11 and 3-6 while the Hornets fall to 7-9 and 4-5. 

GAME INFORMATION
The game was sponsored by LifeNet Health and in honor of former Marlin Nancy Kelly, Class of '15.

INSIDE THE SCORE
The game began with the Hornets getting out to a quick 5-0 lead. A layup by Sierra Coleman got VWU on the board trailing 5-2. The Marlins went on a 6-2 run taking a slim 8-7 lead but the Hornets hit a three to go-ahead 10-8 with 4:53 remaining in the first quarter. The score tied twice before the Marlins took a lead and were ahead 15-14 at the end of the first period.

Lynchburg took a 16-15 lead to begin the second but Virginia Wesleyan answered with a 6-2 run to lead 21-18 until the 3:25 mark when Lynchburg pulled within one, 21-20. The Hornets led a 6-3 run to lead 26-24 with 69 seconds until the halftime horn. A pair of free throws from Sabrina Jones knotted the score at 26 all taking the teams into the halftime break. 

Jayda Chambers put the first basket in the hoop of the second half for the Hornets giving them a 27-26 lead. An 11-2 rally for the Marlins that included three three-pointers, one from Jessica Jennings and two from Logan Carter, and a layup from Jones put VWU up 37-29 with seven and a half to play in the third. Lynchburg climbed within five but Virginia Wesleyan reclaimed a 10-point lead that they held throughout much of the third quarter. The Marlins put up 29 third-quarter points and led by 14 points, 55-41, heading into the fourth.

VWU's lead was cut to single digits, 62-55, following a three-pointer by Maggie Quarles with 2:25 remaining in the game. The Marlins persevered and held off a feisty Hornets squad to win 69-61.

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
Virginia Wesleyan was led by Jessica Jennings, Logan Carter, and Sabrina Jones each with 16 points. Carter went 6-of-7 from the field and a perfect three-of-three from behind the three. Jones had a team-high seven assists and was 6-of-8 from the line. Jennings was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. 

LYNCHBURG LEADERS
The Hornets were led by Abby Oguich with 17 points and seven rebounds. She was followed by Maggie Quarles with 15 points and six rebounds. Jayda Chambers led all Hornets with eight rebounds to go with her eight points and four assists.

KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came in the third quarter when the Marlins went on the 11-2 run that put them ahead by eight points. 

UP NEXT
Virginia Wesleyan hits the road on Wednesday, January 22, to take on the Bridgewater College Eagles in Bridgewater, Va. The Marlins and Eagles meet for a tipoff time of 7 PM.