SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Shenandoah University opened its 2009-10 women's basketball season in style Saturday evening, downing Misericordia 57-50 in the opening game of the Pepsi/Weis Markets Shootout hosted by Susquehanna University.

The win means that SU (1-0) will play for an in-season tournament title for the third time in four seasons under head coach Michelle Guyant-Holloway. The Hornets will face the winner of the host Susquehanna vs Penn College of Technology game on Sunday at 3 p.m.

In 2006-07, Guyant-Holloway's squad won the Lebanon Valley Tournament to start the season while last year's team played in the Franklin & Marshall Tournament championship game.

Shenandoah suffered through a cold shooting night Saturday against the Cougars (0-2). The Hornets missed 16 of their first 20 shots from the field and shot just 30.4 percent (21 for 69) from the field for the contest.

Fortunately, Misericordia was cold as well. MU matched Shenandoah's game-shooting percentage in the first half and also turned it over 12 times, helping Shenandoah to a 27-22 halftime lead.

Senior Katherine Flint had eight of those points with junior Sierra Edwards helping the victors to a seven-rebound advantage by pulling down 12 boards in the first 20 minutes.

The Cougars attempted to make things interesting by going on an 8-2 run early in the second half to tie the game at 32-32, but SU had an answer.

Flint nailed a three-pointer, one of two she had on the night, immediately after MU's game-tying bucket and Shenandoah was on top to stay.

Flint's trey ignited a 13-3 run over the next 7:02 and the Hornets led by at least five points the rest of the way.

Flint finished with a co-game-high 14 points, classmate Alexis Hargbol added 13 with nine boards and Edwards finished with 15 rebounds.

SU had a 52-39 advantage on the glass, including 28-8 on the Cougars' offensive end.  MU had just five second-chance points.

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