WINCHESTER, Va. - Mary Baldwin College used a fast start Thursday evening to propel the Fighting Squirrels to an 87-83 women's basketball victory over host Shenandoah in the Hornets home opener.

MBC (3-1), who averaged just over 80 ppg coming into the contest, torched the silk from behind the arc early in the first half with six of the team's 16 field goals in the opening stanza coming from 3-point land.

Despite the visitors shooting an impressive 6-for-11 from outside the arc in the initial period, the Hornets (0-3) would not fold and slowly chipped away at the Baldwin lead before heading to the halftime lockerroom. SU used a 12-3 run over the final 2:55 of the half to turn a 13-point deficit into being down just 43-39 at the break.

Coach Kathy Orsini's club tied the game in the second half and briefly held the lead as sophomore Dee Fisher (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) traded a flurry of dueling 3-pointers with MBC long-range specialist Melissa Conyers.

Unfortunately, with the game on the line late in the contest, poor shooting from the charity stripe did the hosts in and the Squirrels were able to escape with the victory.

Hornets freshman Alicia Sanders (Wardensville, W.Va./East Hardy) led all scorers with 23 points while Fisher added 20. Sophomore Joia Davis (Trenton, N.J./Stuart Co.) and freshman Cassie Womack (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield) each contributed a double-double to the Hornets' effort, adding 18 points and 12 rebounds and 12 points with 13 boards, respectively.

A complete boxscore may be found at: http://www.su.edu/athletics/wb/200304/120403.htm

The Hornets return to the court as the latter half of a double-header on Saturday, December 13th when they host Randolph-Macon at 7:30.