Roanoke Joins VWC in Semifinals

Maroons Hot Shooting Catches Fire Early to Down Lynchburg

February 28, 2008  -  Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- Saturday’s first semifinal in the ODAC Women’s Basketball Tournament is set as Roanoke College shot a blistering 60.4-percent from the field in defeating Lynchburg College, 86-67.  The Maroons, now 16-10 overall, will take on Virginia Wesleyan College on Saturday afternoon.  The Hornets bow out also at 16-10 on the season.

Roanoke connected on 19-of-28 (67.9%) first half field goals in running out to a 15-point half-time advantage.  Unfortunately for Lynchburg, Roanoke’s hot start overshadowed the Hornets’ own fast beginning as they converted an even 50-percent from the field.

Roanoke maintained its hot touch throughout the latter 20 minutes of action, but Lynchburg saw its shooting plummet to 35-percent.  Roanoke’s lead hovered at 18 points a few times before hitting a 21-point plateau just before the final horn.

Jaleesa Osborne and Caitlyn Long combined for 28 of Roanoke’s points in the opening frame.  Osborne made all six of her jumpers, including a pair of long-distance makes, for 15 points.  Long made four of her first five shots, all coming beyond the arc for 13 points at the break.

Osborned finished the game with a game-high 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting.  Long ended her day with 19 markers, falling just one three-point made short of tying the ODAC women’s tournament single-game record.  Erin Hanson chipped in 18 points (11 in the second half) to go with six boards.  Freshman Jordan Gholson made the most of her first tournament experience, hitting all six of her shots for 12 points.

Brittany Dahn led four Hornets in double figures with 20 points.  Kristina Darby added 12 points and six rebounds before fouling out.  Dana Esposito registered 11 points and Courtney Brewer chipped in 10 points.

Virginia Wesleyan and Roanoke match up on Saturday, March 1, in the first of two women’s semifinals that afternoon.  The winner moves on to the ODAC Championship on Sunday and plays for the league’s automatic qualifier in to the NCAA Division III Tournament.