Marlins Defeat Generals, 60-58, In ODAC Semifinals

SALEM, Va. --- A layup by Washington and Lee's Katy Wilson was blocked as time expired and top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan held on for a 60-58 win over fifth-seeded Washington and Lee in the semifinals of the ODAC women's basketball tournament on Saturday afternoon at the Salem Civic Center.

The Marlins (22-5) took a 56-55 lead on a pair of free throws by senior forward Kristen Blalock with 2:26 remaining and pushed out to a 60-55 advantage with 1:09 remaining after a layup by senior guard Jocelyn Spencer and a pair of free throws by senior guard Shawnee Lewis.

The Generals (14-13) drew to within two points (60-58) as senior guard Meg Ingram banked in a three-pointer with the shot clock expiring. W&L forced a shot clock violation with 12.9 seconds left and worked the ball around until finding Wilson under the basket with less than two seconds remaining.  Her shot was blocked and the clock expired before a follow-up shot could be taken.

W&L took the lead (18-17) on a pair of free throws by junior forward Rachel Warrick with 6:52 left in the first half and closed the opening 20 minutes with a 6-0 run for a 29-21 lead at the break.  The Generals then hit four of their first six shots from the field in the second half to push out to a 39-27 lead with 16:40 to play. 

The lead remained at 11 points (43-32) with 14:51 left following a Wilson layup, but the Marlins used a 19-3 run over the next 8:40 to take a 51-46 lead with 6:11 to play.  W&L went 4:56 without scoring during the run, before Wilson ended the drought with a layup at the 5:40 mark to pull the Generals within three points at 51-48.  The Wilson bucket ignited a 9-3 W&L run that saw the Generals claim a 55-54 lead on another Wilson layup with 3:27 left in the game.  The Marlins wrestled the lead back on Blalock's free throws with 2:26 left and held onto the lead the rest of the way.

Washington and Lee shot 40.0 percent (18-45) from the floor and was led by Ingram, who scored 18 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-6 from distance and 7-of-9 from the foul line.  Wilson tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds, while senior guard Kari Ann Pfannenstein added 10 points and five rebounds.  Senior forward Becca Bolton posted nine points and 11 rebounds, but was held scoreless for the final 23:22 of the game.

Virginia Wesleyan shot just 32.3 percent (21-65) from the floor, but was 14-of-14 from the charity stripe.  The Marlins were paced by Blalock's 15 points and 11 boards, and 12 points from first-year guard Sarah Seipp.  Spencer and Lewis chipped in 11 points each.

The loss ended the Generals season with a 14-13 overall record, the program's fourth straight winning campaign.  Virginia Wesleyan advances to Sunday's championship game against Guilford College.

This release is courtesy of Washington and Lee's sports information department.