LYNCHBURG, VA-Behind 30 points from junior
Erin Hanson and a career-high 14 points from freshman
Jaleesa Osborne, the Roanoke College women's basketball team secured a 74-71 win at Lynchburg College on Saturday. The Maroons improve to 7-6 on the season and 5-4 in the ODAC with the win, which completed the regular season sweep over the Hornets. Lynchburg falls to 2-10, 2-6.
The Maroons jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead in the first two minutes. Hanson opened the game with a short turn-around jumper in the lane and moments later stole the ball at halfcourt and got the fastbreak layup. Just seconds after that, another LC turnover led to an Osborne layup. Brittany Johnson hit back-to-back baskets in the paint and the Maroons had the 10-0 lead.
With 5:50 left in the opening half, sophomore Erin Jenkins hit a three-pointer from the wing to give the Maroons a 37-27 lead. After that basket, the Hornets switched to a zone defense and held the Maroons to just four points the rest of the half. The Hornets ended the half on a 14-4 run that was capped with a Caroline Wesley basket with 24 seconds left to tie the score at 41 at the break.
After several lead changes in the early moments of the second half, the Hornets used a 6-0 run to take a 56-50 lead with 10:17 to play. Hanson sandwiched four points around a Lynchburg basket and with 9:26 left the Maroons trailed 58-54. After a missed Lynchburg shot, Roanoke junior Torri Bridge beat her defender off the dribble and scored on a driving layup to bring Roanoke to within two. After a Brittany Johnson steal, Osborne matched Bridge's basket and the game was tied at 58.
The Maroons forced another Hornet turnover and off of ball movement found Jenkins open on the wing, where she drained another three to give the Maroons the lead for good, 61-58, with 7:05 left. Down by three with just seconds to play, the Hornets brought the ball up-court and missed a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer.
In addition to Hanson's and Osborne's offense, the Maroons also got 10 points and a game-high eight assists from senior Cindy McGraw. Roanoke shot an even 50 percent from the field, 59.5 percent from two-point range. The Maroons were outscored 21-9 a the line, but forced 23 LC turnovers, four coming on Hanson steals.
Roanoke vs. Lynchburg Box Score
