Lynchburg, Va. -- Despite a 22-point effort from senior forward Molly Shephard (Charlottesville, Va.), the University of Lynchburg women's basketball team dropped a 73-55 Old Dominion Athletic Conference game to visiting Virginia Wesleyan Saturday afternoon.

Shephard added six rebounds to her line, while freshman guard Lizzie Davis (Knoxville, Tenn.) tallied 14 points, seven boards, and four assists. It was Davis' third-straight double-figure scoring output.

The Hornets out-rebounded VWU, 40-31, and grabbed 17 offensive rebounds but managed just 14 second-chance points.

Virginia Wesleyan's Jayla Harris led the Marlins with 20 points and three assists.

THE RUNDOWN

Final: Virginia Wesleyan 74, Lynchburg 55

Records: Virginia Wesleyan (5-5, 3-2 ODAC), Lynchburg (4-6, 3-2 ODAC)

Venue: Wayne Proffitt Court at Turner Gymnasium, University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Lynchburg took its only lead of the game on Shephard's made free throws on the Hornets' first possession. Virginia Wesleyan's Amanda Gerni gave the Marlins the lead for good with her 3-pointer 38 seconds into the game; the VWU senior scored all 15 of her points in the first.

• The Marlins outscored Lynchburg 17-6 in the second to take a 41-22 halftime lead.

• Harris helped VWU maintain the lead with 13 points in the third, while Lynchburg shot just 4-for-14 from the field in the period. Shephard made four trips to the free throw line and scored nine points in the stanza.

• Led by two 3s from sophomore guard Carolyn Noe (Fairfax, Va.), the Hornets outscored their visitors, 17-12, in the fourth.

LOOKING AHEAD

Lynchburg will take off for final examinations and the holidays before returning to campus for the Lynchburg Holiday Classic on December 29-30. No. 16 Christopher Newport, No. 18 Emory & Henry, and Meredith will join the Hornets for the two-day tournament.

--LYN--