SALEM, Va. – The Roanoke College Women's Basketball Team (6-10, 2-5 ODAC) shot 61.5 percent (16-of-26) in the first half en route to defeating Emory & Henry College (7-8, 4-3 ODAC) by a 84-59 score Wednesday evening at C. Homer Bast Gymnasium in Old Dominion Athletic Conference action.

The Wasps got out to a 5-2 lead early in the first half and the two squads traded baskets back and forth for the first 13 minutes of play. Up 27-25, the Maroons went on a 16-0 run over the next 4:26 to open up a 43-25 advantage with 2:39 on the clock, and went into the break, up 46-30.

E&H came out firing early in the second half, hitting four three-pointers in the first 4:16 to cut the lead to 52-43. Later in the period with the same nine-point margin, Roanoke took control and finished the final nine minutes on a 24-8 run for the 84-59 victory.

The Maroons, who shot 54.2 percent (32-for-59) for the game, were led by Kelsey Smith with 17 points as she hit all three of her attempts from beyond the arc. Laurel Hankins, Tatum McKee and Paxton Gwin each had 13 points with Gwin adding 10 rebounds to complete the double-double.

Roanoke held a 36-6 advantage on points in the paint and a 30-13 margin in points off turnovers.

Emory & Henry was paced by sophomore guards Michelle Williams (Stokesdale, N.C.) and Jalan McPherson (Jonesville, Va.) with 15 points each as Williams hit five three-pointers and McPherson finished with three treys. Freshman forward Karina Farr (Graham, Wash.) had eight points and nine rebounds while freshman guard Courtney Puckett (Bassett, Va.) pitched in a game-high four assists.

As a team, the Wasps shot just 28.6 percent (20-for-70) from the field despite outrebounding the Maroons 47-44 (26-14 on the offensive glass).

Emory & Henry will remain on the road on Saturday as they travel to Lynchburg, Va., to take on Lynchburg College in an ODAC matchup at 4:00 p.m.

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