SALEM, VA- The Roanoke College women's basketball team built itself an 18-point lead in the first half and held off visiting Eastern Mennonite 66-57 on Friday evening in Salem, VA. The Maroons, who have won four consecutive games and snap a three-game losing streak to EMU, improve to 14-10 overall and 12-7 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Eastern Mennonite drops its second game in a row and is now 16-7 overall, 14-5 in the league.
Tied at six with 16:53 left in the first half, the Maroons used an 11-0 run to open up a 17-6 lead.
Cindy McGraw hit a three and freshman guard
Jaleesa Osborne scored five points in the run, which took place in the span of just two minutes. The Royals called four timeouts in the first 10 minutes of the game, but that didn't stop the Maroon offense, which scored 35 points through the first 14 minutes of the game and opened up a 35-17 lead. After an Osborne layup gave the Maroons that 18-point lead with 6:48 to play in the half, Roanoke scored just three points the rest of the way, all on a
Caitlyn Long three.
The Royals battled back and on a Jolene Kratz layup with 36 seconds left in the half had cut Roanoke's lead to nine points, 38-29. Twice in the second half the Royals got to within just one point, the second time coming with 11:32 left. A Lele Shumate three-pointer made the score 45-44 in Roanoke's favor.
Torri Bridge countered with a layup for the Maroons and
Erin Jenkins hit a three and Roanoke's lead was back to six. Ahead 50-46 with 8:50 to go, the Maroons used a 9-0 to open up a 13-point lead. The eighth and ninth of the points came on an Osborne steal and fastbreak layup. Eastern Mennonite was not able to get within six points the rest of the way.
Bridge led all Roanoke players with 15 points, making six of her 10 shots. She also added three assists and three steals. Osborne, Long, and McGraw also scored in double-figures for Roanoke. McGraw had a career-high six steals in the win. She also had six assists and a block. Tara Jones led all EMU players with 14 points. Ebony Dennis had 11 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
The Maroons are back in action for the final time during the regular season on Saturday in a home game against the Wildcats of Randolph-Macon Woman's College. The game in Salem begins at 4:30pm.
Roanoke vs. Eastern Mennonite Box Score
