THE GAME FACTS
Score: Roanoke 57, Ferrum 38
Location: Salem, Va.

The Short Story: The Roanoke women's basketball team used a smothering defensive effort to overcome the Panthers in a conference victory at the Cregger Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• An early three-point play from Madison Nereu put the Maroons in front for good at 5-3 with 6:57 to play in the first quarter. Roanoke extended the margin to 14-5 on a Lauren Keel jumper at the 2:41 mark, and a late 3-pointer from Kate Littlejohn made it a 17-10 game after the opening period.
• Neither offense could gain much traction in the second quarter, and the Maroons carried a 25-18 advantage into halftime.
• But Roanoke clicked into gear in a dominant third period, outscoring Ferrum 21-5 in the frame. Parker Childress notched all 10 of her points in the quarter, including seven straight markers as part of an overall 16-1 Roanoke run. A fastbreak layup from Rose Sande capped the spurt and put the home side up 43-21 late in the stanza.
• The Maroons would lead by as many as 27 points (53-26) in the fourth quarter in claiming their sixth ODAC victory of the season.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Keel led Roanoke with 13 points, and she also posted five rebounds and three assists. Sande finished with 11 points, eight boards and three assists, and Childress capped the night with 10 points.
• Nereu recorded seven points and four rebounds. Maggie Houpt chipped in five points off the bench, and Sarah English snared four boards.
• Kayla Cabiness tallied a game-high 19 points for Ferrum, and Trina Lewis registered six points and eight rebounds.
• Roanoke shot a healthy 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the field, including a 6-of-14 clip from three-point range. At the other end of the court, the Maroons limited the Panthers to 27.3% shooting (15-of-55), holding their opponent without a triple (0-of-15) and forcing 22 turnovers.

UP NEXT

• The Maroons will hit the road to face Averett on Saturday afternoon. Game time is set for 2 p.m.