Marlins Knock Off Generals, Earn Second Trip to Finals
Late Surge Proves Difference
February 24, 2007
Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- Virginia Wesleyan College hit a few clutch shots in the closing minutes of play on Saturday evening, giving the Marlins the needed push to get past Washington & Lee University 73-62 in the second semifinal of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Women’s Basketball Championship.  VWC (21-6) moves on to face Randolph-Macon College in the title game.  The Generals bow out with a 16-11 record.

Virginia Wesleyan holds a 2-0 postseason edge on Randolph- Macon.  The Marlins defeated the Jackets 79-65 in 1990, and followed with a 65-62 triumph the following season.

After being down by as many as 15 points, Washington & Lee made a strong second half run to pull within two with 12:02 to play.  VWC’s Heather Phillips started the Marlins on a run back to double figures, hitting the first of two jumpers that surrounded a three-pointer by Chelsey Barrett to thrust their lead back to nine points with 9:44 to play.

The Marlins kept the pedal down on its high-speed press, forcing W&L into a few passing mistakes and hurried shots.  Phillips put the game out of reach with 2:23 to play, hitting a jumper to increase VWC’s lead to 16 points at 71-55.

“I think we knew going in that we wanted to pressure them 94-feet for as long as we could,” explained Virginia Wesleyan head coach Stephany Dunmyer.  “We wanted to try and wear them down.  Our depth, again, is one of our strengths.”

Phillips led all scorers with 23 point on 11-of-18 shooting from the field.  She also pulled on six boards and came away with thee steals.  Barrett chipped in 10 points and three assists while freshman Andrea Ushinski added six points and seven rebounds.

Junior Kristen Krouchick led four Generals in double figures with 14 points.  Senior Jessica Hunsinger had 12 points and seven rebounds, and junior Emily Wolff also notched a dozen markers to go with four boards and three steals.  Junior Hayley James added 10 points, nine boards and three takeaways.

The women’s title game is set for Sunday, February 25, at 3:30 p.m. in the Salem Civic Center.  For more information including how to access audio and video of the game via the web, visit the tournament website at www.odaconline.com/odacbballtourney/index.htm.

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