WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University women's basketball team took a major step forward in its quest for a home game at the upcoming ODAC Tournament with a 60-46 win over Eastern Mennonite Wednesday afternoon in the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center.
Shenandoah (11-13, 7-10 ODAC) came into the game tied with Eastern Mennonite (9-15, 6-11) in the league standings, and can now clinch the eighth-seed with a win Saturday at Lynchburg combined with a Bridgewater loss at Emory and Henry.
SU has clinched a spot in the tournament and can finish anywhere from eighth to 10th in the standings. SU will play either Bridgewater or Roanoke Tuesday's first round.
IN BRIEF
With the score tied at 15-15 early in the second quarter, SU outscored the Royals 15-7 to complete the stanza and take a lead it would not relinquish. Junior Shannon Kuhn gave the Hornets the lead for good on a fastbreak layup at 7:45.
Kuhn's layup to start the third pushed the Shenandoah lead into double digits for the first time and coach Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft's club held at least a three-point lead the rest of the way.
With the Royals cutting the deficit to three-points, 41-38, with a 3-pointer at :58 seconds of the third, Jordan Sondrol kickstarted a 9-2 Hornets run with a 3-pointer of her own on the ensuing trip down the floor.
Shenandoah outscored EMU 14-8 in the fourth to coast home to the 14-point win.
Kuhn, playing in her final home game as a Hornet, led the way with a game-high 18 points. Olivia Weinel had 12 points off the bench.
QUOTABLE
"We needed to finish out the home slate strong and we did that today with assist-based basketball and outstanding team defense," Smeltzer-Kraft said. "I am really proud of how we responded (to Saturday's upset loss)."
UP NEXT
The Hornets complete their regular season on Saturday afternoon in the Hill City with a 2 p.m. contest against the other set of ODAC Hornets, the University of Lynchburg.
GAME NOTES
- The win is the 10th lifetime for SU in 30 all-time matchups versus Eastern Mennonite
- Shenandoah is now one game in front of EMU for the ninth-seed at the upcoming ODAC Tournament.
- SU will play at either Bridgewater or Roanoke on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the opening round of the ODAC Tourney with Eastern Mennonite taking on the team that Shenandoah does not.
- Shenandoah shot 44 percent (28-of-64) for the game
- Eastern Mennonite shot 28 percent (16-of-57) for the game
- Shenandoah had a 40-39 edge on the glass
- Shannon Kuhn had 18 points and Olivia Weinel 12 for SU
- Brianna Turner had a team-high seven rebounds in her second consecutive start
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