SALEM, Va. --- Nancy Kelly snared an offensive rebound with nine seconds on the clock, drew a foul, and hit two pressure-packed free throws to help lift fourth-seeded Virginia Wesleyan College to a thrilling 59-57 victory over third-seeded Lynchburg College in the 2015 ODAC Women's Basketball championship game. The win gave VWC its first-ever ODAC championship in women's basketball.

The Marlins 19th victory of the season also gave head coach Stephany Dunmyer her 200th career triumph.  In her 12th season, Dunmyer takes a 200-124 (.617) record into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

VWC teams had advanced to the league's title game five times previously, including four under current head coach Stephany Dunmyer, but had to settle for the runner-up finish each time...until Sunday.  With the ODAC title comes an automatic berth in the upcoming NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament.  VWC (19-9), which will make its first NCAA appearance since 1989 and its fifth overall, will find out about its opponent and date of competition on Monday.

Kelly's crucial rebound and eventual game-winning points followed a blocked layup attempt by Brittany Glasco. Kelly alertly pulled in the rebound and drew a foul with just nine seconds remaining in a game tied at 57-all.  She followed the big rebound with even bigger free throws, hitting both free throws to lift the Marlins into a 59-57 lead.

Lynchburg (19-9) possessed the ball for the final seconds, but could not find a shot against a VWC defense that pressured the ball as soon at it crossed midcourt.  The Hornets turned the ball over and senior Kerri-Leanne Taylor came up with it as the final buzzer sounded, setting off a VWC celebration at midcourt.

Glasco was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after helping the Marlins to the title with with 12 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists.  Senior Andrea Paphites was named to the All-Tournament team, after scoring eight points and pulling down six rebounds. Junior Kelly Jones led VWC with 15 points, including three triples.

Virginia Wesleyan opened up a tightly-contested game midway through the first half by outscoing the Hornets 12-4 to produce a 28-20 lead.  Paphites hit two triples in the run and Jones hit another.  Lynchburg battled back however, led by Chaney Forbush who scored seven points in the final 2:19 to take a 30-29 lead at halftime.

Lynchburg rode that momentum through the first nine minutes of the second half to open up a 40-33 lead, helped by five consecutive points from Charmaine Hairston. But, Virginia Wesleyan came back impressively, ignited by a Jones triple, a Taylor layup, and a three-point play from sophomore Crystal Strother, the latter tying the game at 41-all.

The teams traded the lead six times after that into the final minutes when Kelly hit two free throws to give Virginia Wesleyan a 57-55 advantage with 54 seconds on the clock. Shannon Allen scored on a layup to tie the game with 35 seconds remaining, before the Marlins took over in the final seconds.

Lynchburg's final totals included 22 points and 19 rebounds from Forbush, and 17 points from Hairston. Allen scored 14 points.

2015 All-Tournament Team
Shannon Allan, Lynchburg College
Chaney Forbush, Lynchburg College
Brittany Glasco, Virginia Wesleyan College
Andrea Paphites, Virginia Wesleyan College
Jess Rheinheimer, Eastern Mennonite University 

--- This release is courtesy of the Virginia Wesleyan sports information department. ---
www.vwcathletics.com