SALEM, Va. --- Jordan Gholson scored 14 of her game-high 22 points in the second-half to lift Roanoke over Guilford, 69-60 at the Bast Center Tuesday evening. The home-opener win gives the Maroons a 3-0 record in back-to-back seasons for only the second time in school-history. The only other time came before the Dunagan era in 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons.

 

Roanoke (3-0), winners of five of its last six games dating back to last season, outscored the Quakers 16-8 in points off turnovers, 17-6 in second chance points, and 26-22 in points in the paint. Gholson had 14 points in the second half to give the Maroons a 16-6 second-half edge in that category. The women also won the rebounding battle, 40-30 for the third-straight game.

 

Roanoke jumped out to a quick 11-6 lead early in the first half as Virginia Anne Hagood had seven of the team's points to start the game.

 

Jazmine Wood hit a lay-up to give the Quakers a 16-13 lead with 10:09 left in the first half as Susan Dunagan called a 30-second timeout which capped a 10-2 run.

 

The Quakers continued to take control over the next six minutes with a 19-3 run to give them a commanding 32-19 lead with just under four minutes remaining.

 

Jaleesa Osborne took control and scored nine of the team's 10 points to cut the Maroon deficit to six, 35-29 at the half. Osborne capped a 10-3 run with back-to-back layups to end the half.

 

Gholson started her scoring barrage in the beginning of the second-half, scoring four baskets in a row to tie the game at 37-all with 16:06 left as Guilford called timeout.

 

Guilford built their lead back up to nine, 52-43 with 11:08 left as Ann Suefer hit her second of four  three-pointers for the game to cap a 15-6 run.

 

Roanoke countered with a 12-2 run as Bethany Holland's layup gave the Maroons a 55-54 lead for the first time in the second half.

 

A Alexa Miles layup gave Guilford its final lead of the game, 56-55 before Gholson scored the next seven points to give the Maroons a 62-56 lead with 1:38 remaining. Roanoke held on for their third win hitting 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch.

 

Gholson finished with 22 points, six rebounds and a season-best four blocks to lead Roanoke. She hit all six of her free throws and was 8-of-15 from the floor. Osborne finished with 16 points and three assists including 5-of-5 from the field and hit all six of her free throws.

 

Caitlyn Long had 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. She was 6-of-8 from the charity stripe. Hagood scored nine of her season-high 11 points in the second half and tied her career-best with seven rebounds. Erin Jenkins dished out a career-high six assists in addition to seven points.

 

Guilford (1-3), outscored the Maroons, 18-2 off the bench and was 9-of-19 from three-point range. They shot 44.6 from the field led by Ann Suefer with 14 points to lead the Quakers. Alexa Williams had 13 and shot 6-of-11 from the floor.

 

Roanoke is now 27-13 against the Quakers and has won the last four meetings. The Maroons are also 43-24 all-time against North Carolina teams.

 

The women take on Averett University in non-conference action on Saturday, Nov. 29 against former Maroon great, Katrina Williams. The Maroons hold a 13-2 all-time advantage against the Cougars, 9-0 with Dunagan as coach. Game time is set for 2 p.m.