Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. - Junior forward Jessica Martin and freshman forward Allison Howard both had double-doubles, but Virginia Union overcame a seven-point halftime deficit for a 64-55 win over East Stroudsburg University in non-conference women's basketball on Saturday.

Martin had 21 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots and Howard had 12 points and 12 rebounds for ESU (4-4), which will return to Pennsylvania to play three games against the PSAC West next week.

Ashle Freeman scored 30 points and Melyse Brown had 10 points and 10 boards for Virginia Union (2-4).

Martin and Freman both scored 19 points in the first half, and ESU led 39-32 at intermission. Virginia Union held a 32-16 advantage after halftime.

Martin moved into the top 20 in PSAC history in career blocks with 160 - 76 (PSAC freshman record) in 2012, 61 last year and 23 this season.

She and Howard both had double-doubles in the same game for the second time this year. Martin had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Howard had 12 points and 13 boards, in a 66-57 loss to No. 11-ranked Holy Family in the season opener. Prior to this season, ESU teammates had double-doubles in the same game just twice in the last 10 years.

Virginia Union jumped out to an early lead (17-13) six minutes into the game before an 18-2 run gave the Warriors their biggest advantage of 12 points. They matched it at 39-27 with 2:30 left in the first half, before Virginia Union closed with the final five points to get within 39-32.

The Panthers led for most of the second stanza, with ESU pulling even twice in the final four minutes. A layup by Martin tied the game at 53-all with 3:30 remaining, but Virginia Union finished the game on an 11-2 run.

Sophomore guard Melissa Poderis added eight points and five assists for ESU. Jasmin Dancy gave Virginia Union a third double-figure scorer with 10 points and seven rebounds, and Denesha Tatum had eight points and nine rebounds.

The Warriors travel to western Pennsylvania next week, playing at Slippery Rock on Tuesday and Edinboro on Wednesday. They finish this semester's schedule at home against Mercyhurst on Saturday at 1:05 p.m.

GAME NOTES
* ESU, 4-4 overall, is 4-1 at home and 0-3 on the road this season. The Warriors have led at half in two of their three road losses (Millersville, Virginia Union) and were tied at Kutztown.

* Martin had her 13th career double-double and 3rd of the season.
* Her 21 points are the 3rd-most of her career, behind a pair of 22-point games.

* Martin entered the week tied for 12th in DII with 2.7 blocks per game. She now has 23 blocks in 8 games (2.9 per game).

* Howard had the 2nd double-double of her freshman year (12 points, 13 rebounds vs. Holy Family in the season opener).
* She has 3 games with 10+ rebounds and 5 games with 10+ points. She has scored in double figures in 4 straight games.