NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Shenandoah University women's basketball team led wire-to-wire Friday afternoon in a 69-50 non-league win over Notre Dame (Md.).
Shenandoah (5-5) earned the win in the opening game of the Music City Classic by shooting a stellar 60 percent (9-for-15) from behind the arc in the win over the Gators (3-5).
Sophomores Sarah Donley and Ashley Stone led this performance; Donley had 12 points on a 4-for-4 showing from long distance with Stone scoring half her 12 points by making both of her 3-point attempts.
Donley and Stone were two of four women to score in double figures – sophomore Jordan Sondrol had 14 points and senior Kirstyn Arcata 11.
Sondrol gave SU the lead it would not relinquish by draining a pair of 3-pointers to start the contest. The Hornets began the game on a 10-2 run to take total control.
After NDM closed to within two, 12-10, at the end of the first, Donley took over by making three straight 3-pointers to start the second.
Donley's outburst, along with a Sondrol '3', pushed the Shenandoah lead to 12, 24-12, with 5:21 remaining.
The Hornets lead would remain in double digits the rest of the way.
SU ended the first on a 10-4 run to take a 34-18 lead into the break.
Coach Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft's club then iced the win by outscoring the Gators 22-10 in the third.
"Our offense is at its best when we share the ball," Smeltzer-Kraft said. "We had 17 assists off 25 field goals – that is solid team basketball.
"We shot well from '3' and were able to separate from them early.
"It was great to see nine people score."
All 12 women saw action in the contest with nine of the 12 registering at least two points.
The Hornets shot 36 percent (25-of-69) in the win and were 10-of-14 (71 percent) from the line.
SU had a 53-44 advantage on the glass and scored 17 points off of 16 Notre Dame turnovers.
Sondrol had nine boards, Stone seven and McKenzie Mathis eight to lead Shenandoah in that category.
The Hornets continue tournament play Saturday with a 6 p.m. game versus Dubuque (Iowa).
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