WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Shenandoah University opened up the C.K. Calhoun era Thursday night with a 54-42 non-league women's basketball loss at Wilkes University.

The contest was close throughout until Wilkes (1-0) shut the Hornets (0-1) out in the final 3:10 to pull away and clinch the victory.

SU trailed 43-42 when the run started; the Hornets final bucket turned out to be a Holly Chittenden layup at the 3:10 mark.

Shenandoah (0-1) scored seven of the initial 10 points of the game and had a 15-5 lead at the 12:38 mark, but saw the Lady Colonels score six straight points in a span of 55 seconds to get back into the contest.

Junior Crystal Petrus broke the Wilkes string with a 3-pointer at 10:40, but WC had another run itself.

This spurt, 10-2 from the 9:49 to 6:45 marks, gave the hosts a 21-20 lead.

The two teams were then with two points of each other for the remainder of the half.

Junior Sara D'Amico had the final bucket of the stanza, laying in a shot at the buzzer to send the two teams into the lockerroom tied at 23-23.

In the second, the margin stayed within four points until Wilkes pulled away with that final run.

SU shot just 25.0 percent (7 for 28) in the second half and saw the Colonels convert 15 Shenandoah turnovers into 12 points.

Petrus led the Hornets with 10 points while freshman Imani Heggins added eight along with a team-high seven rebounds.

Shenandoah had a 39-38 advantage on the glass.

The Hornets are back in action on Saturday at the Dickinson Tournament.

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