VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Junior point guard Madison Baum poured in a career-high 30 points Wednesday night to lead the Bridgewater Eagles to their first win of the season, 77-71, over Virginia Wesleyan in ODAC action.

Makayla Johnson and Claire Mocarski hit short jumpers for an early 4-0 Eagles lead before the Marlins surged ahead 6-5. Bridgewater outscored Virginia Wesleyan 13-2 over the final six minutes of the opening period to take an 18-8 lead.

The Eagles increased the lead to 12 points, 22-10, early in the second period on a 3-pointer by Ahlia Moone. The Marlins cut the margin in half before consecutive 3-balls by Moone and Lindsay Estes increased the cushion back to 12, 36-24, with 2:02 left in the half. The Eagles led at the break, 36-28.

The Marlins whittled away at the Eagles lead in the third quarter and pulled even on the scoreboard at 44-44 with 3:13 on the clock. A layup by Sabrina Jones put the home team on top 49-48 with 1:18 left in the quarter, but Baum scored five points in the final minute to send the Eagles to the fourth quarter with a 54-53 lead.

Virginia Wesleyan took its biggest lead of the game, 68-63, with 5:24 left to play. Baum then scored on a layup and Moone hit two free throws to pull the Eagles to within a point, 68-67. Kayla Darr made 1-of-2 foul shots to pull the Eagles even before the Marlins' Latroya Gravely and Baum traded hoops to keep the game knotted at 70-70 with 2:57 remaining.

The Eagles held the Marlins to one free throw the rest of the game and Baum scored Bridgewater's final seven points to finish off the 77-71 victory.

Baum made 10-of-20 shots from the floor and 10-of-18 free throws to account for her 30 points. Moone hit 4-of-9 shots from 3-point range and added 18 points for the Eagles. The Eagles battled the Marlins to a near standoff on the boards as the hosts held a 49-47 rebounding edge. Johnson paced the Eagles with seven boards.

Bridgewater (1-6, 1-1 in the ODAC) returns to action Saturday afternoon when the Eagles host Guilford for a 2:00 p.m. start. The team is sponsoring its Annual Toy Drive Game and fans can receive free admisstion if they bring a new-unwrapped toy to the game. The game is also the team's Bleed Crimson game and fans are encouraged to wear their favorite, or ugliest, holiday sweater to Saturday's game.