NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Shenandoah University women's basketball team battled hard but saw its six-game winning streak come to an end in the Captains Clash Tournament Championship on Thursday afternoon, falling to eighth-ranked Christopher Newport University, 71-55.
Despite the loss, senior Terese Greene once again showcased her prowess with a game-high 20 points. Greene's performance, which included 9-of-15 shooting from the free-throw line, demonstrated her relentless drive to keep the Hornets (6-3, 3-0) competitive against a nationally-ranked opponent. Gabby Krystofiak also had a strong outing with 11 points, hitting 4-of-7 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range. Emily Williams narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds, while Maddie Kimble contributed eight points, going a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
Shawnise Campbell's gritty effort on the boards stood out as she pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. However, the Hornets struggled offensively, shooting just 28% from the field and 17% from beyond the arc. Turnovers proved costly, as Christopher Newport's aggressive full-court press forced 29 turnovers, leading to 28 points for the Captains. CNU also capitalized on high-percentage opportunities in the paint, outscoring Shenandoah 34-20 in that area and using their bench depth to outscore the Hornets 37-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets matched the Captains' intensity early on, with Emily Williams tying the game at 2-2 and Terese Greene's three-pointer giving Shenandoah a slim lead at 13-12. Christopher Newport responded with a three-pointer and a tip-in basket, ending the quarter with a narrow 19-16 advantage.
CNU's defense turned the tide, holding the Hornets to just five points in the frame. Shenandoah went ice cold, shooting 1-for-16 from the field and 0-for-6 from deep. Sydney Shepos scored the Hornets' lone field goal of the quarter, and the Captains surged to a commanding 37-21 halftime lead.
Shenandoah showed resilience, opening with a 5-0 run behind a free throw from Greene and layups by Campbell. Greene added five more points, but CNU began finding success from three-point range after struggling in the first half. Emily Williams' and-one opportunity briefly closed the gap, but the Hornets trailed 50-36 entering the final quarter.
The Hornets battled to the end, with Greene scoring six of her 20 points in the final frame. Gabby Krystofiak hit a three-pointer midway through the quarter, but CNU's defense and balanced scoring kept Shenandoah at bay. Maddie Kimble sank her final four free throws, and Krystofiak closed out the scoring for the Hornets in the final seconds.
Captains Clash All-Tournament Team:
MVP - Hannah Orloff, CNU
Hailey Kellogg, CNU
Terese Greene, Shenandoah
Gabby Krystofiak, Shenandoah
Gabby Russell, Wilmington (OH)
Haleigh Releford, Asbury
UP NEXT
Shenandoah will regroup during the holiday break before traveling to face Montclair State University in a non-conference matchup on December 30. The Hornets will look to bounce back and build on their strong start to the season.
#GoSUHornets
