Score: Roanoke 60, Bridgewater 56
Records: Maroons 14-5, 8-4 ODAC; Eagles 12-5, 7-4 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va.

The Short Story: The Roanoke women's basketball team used a big push in the middle potion of the game against Bridgewater to take the lead as the Maroons held on for the 60-56 win over the Eagles inside the Bast Center Gym on Saturday afternoon.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first quarter was low scoring as neither team was able to find a groove in the first 10 minutes. The Eagles led 5-4 at 5:21 after a pair of free throws by Rose Sande pulled the Maroons within one. A 6-0 run by Bridgewater put them ahead by seven, but was stopped by a free throw by Brynlee Burrill with just six seconds left in the period.
• Leading 11-5 after one, Bridgewater saw their lead evaporate quickly as the Maroons took their first lead of the game at 14-13 with 7:18 left before halftime on a three pointer by Sayre Brandstatter. The Eagles responded with a 7-0 over the next two-plus minutes until Sande made one of two free throws at 5:23. A layup by Madison Nereu pulled the Maroons within three at 2017 and Sande again pulled Roanoke within three at 22-19 with 3:16 on the clock. A layup by Jacquelyn DeJesse with 1:09 left brought the Eagle lead down to just two at 24-22 at the break.
• The Maroons opened the third quarter on an 11-1 run that was capped by a Sande layup at 5:07 that gave Roanoke a 33-25 lead. A Brandstatter three pointer extended the lead for coach Carla Flaherty's team to 39-31. With 1:34 left in the period, Sande made another jump shot putting Roanoke ahead by double-digits for the first time. A three by Brandstatter with just nine seconds left in the quarter put the Maroons ahead 46-35 as the teams headed to the final period.
• The Eagles began to slowly chip away at the Roanoke lead, pulling within five at 57-52 with 2:30 left in the game. A Bridgewater layup with 25 seconds left made it a one-possession game at 59-56. With :22 left on the clock Sande made one of two free throws and the Eagles missed a three pointer with five seconds left as the Maroons came away with a 60-56 ODAC at home.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sande's 21 points led all scorers with Brandstatter also finishing in double-figures with 13 points.
• The 16 combine points by both teams was the lowest this season in a Roanoke game.
• The Maroons led Bridgewater in three pointers (7-3), free throws made (15-13), assists (10-9), and fast break points. The two teams were tied in second chance points (8-8) and bench points (13-13).

UP NEXT

• The Maroons continue a three-game home stand on Wednesday, February 1 when they host Ferrum at the Bast Center Gym. Tip-off with the Panthers is scheduled for 5 p.m.
• Roanoke defeated the Panthers earlier this season on November 30, on the road 75-33.