Box Score HARRISONBURG, Virginia - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's basketball team defeated the Royals of Eastern Mennonite University 68-51 on Thursday evening in Harrisonburg, VA. The Marlins move to 4-6 on the season and 3-4 against ODAC foes while Eastern Mennonite falls to 0-3 and 0-3. 

INSIDE THE SCORE
The Marlins began the game with a 7-0 run in the opening three minutes of the contest taking the early lead. Adaje Williams scored five of the opening points while Jessica Jennings added a pair of free throws. EMU founded their first basket as the clock ticked under seven minutes to play in the opening quarter but the Marlins kept applying pressure as Jennings added five points to the score before the Royals found their third point, 12-3, on a free throw with 4:46 on the clock. Eastern Mennonite closed the Virginia Wesleyan lead to three points, 13-10 (1:27) following an 8-1 run but seven unanswered points by VWU closed out the first quarter with the Marlins leading by ten, 20-10.

The ball went cold for VWU in the second quarter as they did not find their first basket until 4:15 remained on the clock. Eastern Mennonite took advantage of the lull by cutting the Virginia Wesleyan lead to just three points, 20-17, following their 7-0 run. Danielle Lehner ended the dry spell for the Marlins converting a three-point play the old fashioned way, and Jennings followed with an actual three to give VWU a nine point lead, 26-17, with 3:22 in the half. EMU added another basket with just over a minute and a half to play before the horn and VWU closed out the half with five points from Adaje Williams to enter the break leading 31-19.

Virginia Wesleyan opened the second half on a 7-4 run to lead 38-23 with seven minutes on the clock. The Royals clawed back within eight points, 42-34 (4:24) following an 11-6 rally over the two and a half minute window. VWU maintained at least an eight-point lead the remainder of the third quarter and led by 12, 51-39, as the two squads entered the final ten minutes of action. 

Sabrina Jones got the fourth quarter going with a pair of free throws to increase the Marlin lead to 14, 53-39. EMU closed within eight points again following an 8-2 run that put the score at 55-47 with six minutes remaining in regulation. Bianca Atkinson made a three followed by a S'Zahria Jones layup to give the Marlins their double-digit lead again, 60-47, but Claiborne Poston responded for the Royals with a three of her own to put the spread at 10, 60-50, with just over five minutes to play. The Marlins cracked down in the final five minutes giving up just one point on a free throw while added an additional eight points to their own score to win the game 68-51.

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by S'Zahria Jones and Adaje Williams 16 points and 10 rebounds apiece. Jessica Jennings added 15 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in the game. 

EASTERN MENNONITE LEADERS
The Royals were led by Tiffany Carey with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Claiborne Poston and Emily McCombs both added nine points as the next highest scoring players.

KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came just before the half when Adaje Williams scored five unanswered points for the Marlins to give VWU a 12-point lead at the break. 

UP NEXT
The Virginia Wesleyan Marlins will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 27, when they host Ferrum College in the final regular season contest of the season. Tip off is set for 2 PM between the Panthers and the Marlins in TowneBank Arena in Virginia Beach, VA. Per ODAC policies, no fans will be allowed in the game so fans can follow the game here.