VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Junior Sara Tarbert poured in a career-high and program record 41 points and senior Stephanie Martinez broke the program record for career three-pointers as the Stevenson University women's basketball team pulled away from Virginia Wesleyan College for a 81-69 win at the Batten Center Wednesday night.

Tarbert, who finished 17-25 from the floor and scored the Mustangs' first 20 points, broke the Stevenson (4-4) single-game program record of 35 set by Tanisha Foster.  It also marks the third-highest single-game scoring total in NCAA Division III this season.  Tarbert grabbed 15 rebounds en route to her fifth double-double of the season while also adding five blocked shots and three assists.

Martinez, who entered the game with 141 career three-pointers, knocked down a trio of trifectas to move to 144 for her career, one more than the previous record held by Cara Hill.  She finished with 18 points and a career-high 10 assists.

Jonyae Curry and Caitlin Roy finished with nine points and six rebounds apiece for Stevenson.

Virginia Wesleyan (2-8) was led by Jayla Harris' 27 points while Crystal Strother knocked down six three pointers and finished with 18 points.

Stevenson trailed 34-30 at halftime and was down for most of the third quarter, falling behind 45-39 with just over six minutes to go.  The Mustangs scored seven straight points capped by a Tarbert basket at the 3:40 mark to take a 46-45 lead.  The teams traded the lead twice before a Kaitlyn VanTash layup gave the guests a 51-49 lead with 1:55 to go, which they would carry into the final frame.

The Mustangs broke the game open with a 16-1 run capped by a Tarbert three with 5:40 remaining to take a 69-53 lead.  Martinez had eight points in the run, including back-to-back three pointers, as the Marlins went nearly four minutes without a field goal.  Stevenson took its largest lead, 76-59, with 3:27 left on a Tarbert basket.

Tarbert had all 15 of Stevenson's points on 6-8 shooting in the first quarter as it trailed 17-15 after one.  The two teams traded the lead four times in the opening period.  A Harris three midway through the second quarter opened up a seven-point Virginia Wesleyan lead, 27-20, but seven straight Stevenson points capped by a Tarbert basket 2:51 before intermission tied the game.  The Marlins took a 34-30 lead into the locker room.

Stevenson shot 53.3% over the final 10 minutes and 45.9% for the game while limiting Virginia Wesleyan to 34.4% shooting for the contest.  The Mustangs took 13 more trips to the free throw line, going 19-30 while the Marlins went 14-17 at the charity stripe.  The guests were 6-18 from long range, with VWC going 11-31 from three, but Stevenson held a 40-38 rebounding advantage.  The Mustangs also committed a season-low 10 turnovers while forcing 15 Marlin miscues.

Stevenson plays at home for just the second time this season and first time since November 24 when it hosts Albright College in a MAC Commonwealth contest Saturday at 3:00 pm at Owings Mills Gymnasium.