WINCHESTER, Va. – Ferrum College extended its long USA South Conference women's basketball winning streak over host Shenandoah with a 67-66 victory over the Hornets in the league opener for both schools Wednesday evening.
Shenandoah (2-4, 0-1 USA South) had the final possession, but was unable to get off a shot and Ferrum (5-1, 1-0) escaped with the one-point victory.
The win is the 21st straight for the Panthers in the longtime series with SU; Shenandoah has not beaten FC since taking a 77-68 home triumph on February 17, 2004.
The Panthers did not trail for the final 35 minutes of the contest, but SU had numerous second half opportunities to take a lead.
The contest was tied four times in the second, the last with 8:47 remaining, but the Hornets were never able to seize the advantage.
Shenandoah's best opportunity came with 2:50 remaining when junior Nicole Gilbertson hit one of two after being intentionally fouled.
Unfortunately for the Shingleton Gymnasium crowd, Gilbertson missed a short jumper on the ensuing awarded possession and the Hornets would get no closer than the one-point deficit.
Kristen Keith scored what proved to be the game-winning bucket on a layup with 1:48 left.
Ferrum led virtually the entire first half, but a 10-1 Shenandoah run to complete the stanza made it just a two-point (36-34) halftime lead for the Panthers.
Freshman Holly Chittenden, who was named as the league's Rookie of the Week on Monday, did most of the damage with six of the 10 points.
Chittenden made consecutive 3-point plays at 2:29 and 2:03 to cut the Hornets deficit from nine to five points.
In the final minute, SU completed the run with a pair of Mandy Johnston free throws combined with a Sam Akers baseline layup.
Akers had a co-game-high 16 and Gilbertson 11 with 11 boards for the hosts.
Tesla Akers matched Sam Akers with 16 points with Jacole Hairston chipping in 15, Katy Kipps 14 and Keith 11 for the Panthers.
Shenandoah finishes this week of USA South Conference play on Saturday with a 2:00 game at Averett University.
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