Maroons to Face Guilford in Semifinals

SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke College center Nicci Moats poured in 22 points to go with 18 rebounds to help push the Maroons past Virginia Wesleyan College, 70-49, in the fourth quarterfinal of the 2011 ODAC Women's Basketball Tournament.  Roanoke improves to 18-7 overall while the Marlins finish the season with a 12-14 mark.

The win propels the third-seeded Maroons into the ODAC semifinals, setting up a matchup with seventh-seeded Guilford College.  The Quakers punched their semifinal dance card with a 67-66 win over second-seeded Bridgewater College, marking the only upset in the tournament, so far.

Moats led all scorers and three Maroons in double figures with her 22 points.  The 18 boards she collected ties for the seventh-highest mark in ODAC tournament history.  She connected on 10-of-17 field goals and added to her Roanoke single-season record with three blocked shots (76 total). Fellow post Jordan Gholson also notched a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds to go with a pair of rejections.  It marked the 17th combined double-double for the duo (14 for Moats) and third time they've done it in the same game (all wins).  Becca Bays added 11 points and six boards while also posting a game-best four assists.

Virginia Wesleyan was led by Shawnee Lewis' 17 points and a personal season-high nine rebounds. She cashed in 3-of-5 shots from beyond the arc.  Beth Ann Boyce and Kristen Blalock chipped in seven points apiece, with the latter student-athlete being held to 2-of-12 shooting by RC's front line.

Roanoke saw its 12-point first half lead evaporate towards the end of the frame, holding only a six-point advantage at 31-25 going into the intermission.  It was the Maroons' second-half prowess that opened up a large cushion.  Gholson's layup with 8:14 to play put RC ahead, 54-32, before the Marlins went on a quick eight-point run.

Lewis sandwiched a jumper by Boyce with a pair of three-pointers to bring VWC within 14 at 54-40 with 7:10 showing on the clock, but the Maroons' stopped the spurt thanks to a crafty dribble-drive and baseline layup by Bays.

The Marlins missed their next six shots, giving Roanoke the chance to pull away in the final half-dozen minutes.  The Maroons' lead reached 24 points at 64-40 with 3:06 to play, paving the way to the game's final scoreline.

The ODAC Women's Basketball Tournament continues on Saturday, February 26, with the event's semifinal contests.  Defending champions Washington and Lee University, this year's fourth seed, squares off with top-seeded Randolph-Macon College at 1:00 p.m.  The Roanoke-Guilford matchup follows at 3:00 p.m. in the Salem Civic Center.  To follow along with both games, visit the ODAC Tournament website for links to live video and live stats at www.odaconline.com/tournament/winter/basketball.

For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.