The women's basketball team will look to get back on the winning track as they travel to ODAC rival Lynchburg College in the first road game of the season on Dec. 4. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.

 

Series Information:

The Maroons lead the all-time series, 52-7, including the last six meetings. Head Coach Susan Dunagan is 50-5 against the Hornets. Their last defeat came in 2004, 52-46 at Lynchburg. The series has been relatively tight in recent years. Since 2001, the series record is 9-3, with two overtime wins and five of those games decided by 10 points or less. From 1982-2001, Roanoke won 41-striaght games over the Hornets.

 

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 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.

 

About the Hornets:
Lynchburg enters the contest with a 3-1 record, with the only loss coming to Div. I Elon University, 79-63 on the road. They have defeated NAIA-member, Southern Virginia twice and Newport News Apprentice, 69-53.

Brittany Dahn leads the team in scoring (16.8) and rebounding (8.5). Kristina Darry leads the team in assists (13) and second in scoring (13.0). Kylie Lucas is averaging 11.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Dana Esposito is averaging 7.3 points, 3.5 steals and 2.8 assists per game.

 

Senior forward Erin Hanson is leading the ODAC in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game. She led the ODAC in scoring last season, averaging 18.9 points per game, second in rebounding (9.9 rpg). She is currently seventh in rebounding (7.4 rpg), which leads the Maroons. Hanson also leads the team in steals (10) and free throws (20).

 

Senior guard Torri Bridge has made all 10 of her attempts this season. She is tied for first in free throw percentage in the ODAC. She is second on the team with six rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Bridge has made her last 16 attempts dating back to last season.

 

Freshman Jordan Gholson currently leads the team in blocked shots with 13 over five games. She is also sixth in field goal percentage (.512). Gholson is third in scoring (11.0 ppg) and third in rebounds (5.6 rpg). She tied a freshman school-record with six blocks vs. Averett (11/24), which is second all-time with blocks in a single game.