LYNCHBURG, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College women’s basketball team used a huge night from Jay Garcia to defeat Lynchburg 76-61 on Wednesday night.
The Basics
Score: (RV) Bridgewater 76, Lynchburg 61
Records: (RV) Bridgewater 12-2 (5-0 ODAC), Lynchburg 8-6 (1-4 ODAC)
How It Happened
• Bridgewater got on the board first as Riley Corcoran sank a free throw on an administrative technical foul, and she followed it up with a three-pointer to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead one minute in. The Hornets drained a three-pointer going the other way, but BC replied with a 7-0 run led by five points from Garcia. The three-pointer from the senior capped off the run and made it an 11-3 edge. Both teams started trading buckets over the final four minutes of the opening quarter. Lynchburg was able to pull back to within four points with a minute to play, but a Jaiden Polston old-school three-point play and a Garcia bucket expanded the lead to 22-13 after the opening period.
• Garcia got the Eagles started in the second stanza, but a Cason bucket in response for Lynchburg sparked an 11-4 run for the home team to bring them back to within four points at 28-24. Garcia and Corcoran ended the run with scores for a six-point BC swing that followed to stretch the lead back to double figures, but the Hornets had another reply. Lynchburg rolled off a 10-0 scoring run to draw even at 24-24 with 91 seconds to go in the half, but an Angelina Yann three-pointer gave BC a 37-34 lead at the intermission.
• Lynchburg struck first in the second half, but the Eagles responded with a 10-2 run led by four points from Garcia and Corcoran to expand the lead to 47-38 with 5:23 to go in the period. Lynchburg responded after the two sides traded buckets with a scoring run of its own. An 8-3 run for the Hornets cut the lead in half down the stretch in the quarter, but a free throw make by Corcoran and a bucket by Asia Williams at the horn helped BC take a 55-48 lead heading to the final frame.
• Neither side got on the board until nearly two minutes in as the Hornets made a pair at the charity stripe. BC replied as Williams drained a jumper to spark a 9-1 scoring run for the Eagles. Garcia led the way with five during the scoring spree and a Polston score capped it off to make it 64-51 with under five minutes to play. Lynchburg relied on shooting from long range to crawl back into the contest as a series of three-pointers sliced the gap to single digits with 3:40 to play, but the Eagles had answers. BC outscored the Hornets 10-4 over the final 2:24, led by six points from Humpherys, to secure the win.
Match Notes,
• Garcia led Bridgewater with 24 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Corcoran registered 18 points to go along with five steals, while Polston tallied 13 points and a game-high six assists.
• Litlejohn led Lynchbrug with 15 points. Petty tossed in 12 points and nine rebounds in the effort.
• The Eagles shot over 50% from the field for the second-consecutive game. Bridgewater was 50% form the floor in the final quarter and limited Lynchburg to 21.4% (3/14) to secure the victory. BC dominated the painted areas as well at a 44-20 mark, but Lynchburg doubled the Eagles, eight to four, in makes from three-point land.
Up Next
Bridgewater returns home to take on Hollins on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Bridgewater Athletics will honor its members of the ODAC Hall of Fame’s inaugural class during halftime.
— BC Athletics —
