ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – The Shenandoah University women's basketball team earned its first victory of the season with an 83-79 non-league win over St. Mary's of Maryland Saturday afternoon.

Shenandoah (1-3) trailed by 10 points, 58-48, with 11:07 remaining, but roared back into it with a 9-0 run over the next 2:24 to make it 58-57 with 8:43 remaining.

Senior Crystal Petrus, who led the Hornets with 25 points, had the final point of this run by hitting one of two from the line.

After SMC (0-3) hit a layup to extend its advantage back to three, Chantelle Phung and Mary Severin followed with a jumper and a layup, respectively, to give SU a 61-60 advantage.

The two teams then traded the lead four times before an Imani Heggins 3-point play gave coach CK Calhoun's club the lead for good, 66-64, with 5:10 left.

Shenandoah extended this margin to eight points on two occasions before the 'Hawks made matters interesting with a 7-2 run that made it 80-79 with 23 seconds remaining, but Petrus hit three of four from the line down the stretch to ice the victory.

The Hornets had four of five starters: Petrus, Heggins, Holly Chittenden and Elisa Owens, all hit in double figures.

Severin and Olivia Callan paced a bench effort with eight points each.

St. Mary's had a slight, 38-34, rebounding advantage with SU shooting 49 percent to the Seahawks 47.

Shenandoah opens up its home slate on Tuesday night at 6:00 in a non-league contest against Mary Washington. All fans will be admitted free to the contest with the donation of one non-perishable food item.

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