WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University women's basketball team returned to the court for the second time this week, overcoming snowy conditions to face the University of Mary Washington. Despite their efforts, the Hornets (15-7, 10-3) fell to the Eagles in a hard-fought 56-49 contest.
Shenandoah was led offensively by Terese Greene, who recorded a team-high 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting while going 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. Greene also contributed five rebounds and three assists. Maddie Kimble and Shawnise Campbell each added eight points, with Kimble shooting 3-of-9 from the floor, including 2-of-7 from deep, while also tallying two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Campbell finished 4-of-10 from the field while pulling down eight rebounds and recording three steals.
Gabby Krystofiak and Emily Williams each connected on two field goals and went 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. Krystofiak added three rebounds and a steal, while Williams secured seven boards, two assists, and one steal. As a team, the Hornets shot 17-of-59 from the floor, 2-of-10 from three-point range, and 13-of-17 from the free-throw line. Mary Washington finished 21-of-51 from the field, 5-of-18 from beyond the arc, and 9-of-15 from the free-throw line.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams exchanged baskets early, with Mary Washington gaining an initial lead before Krystofiak tied the game off an assist from Campbell. Kimble's three briefly gave the Hornets a 5-4 advantage, but the Eagles responded with a three-pointer. Campbell's basket, assisted by Kimble, tied the game again at 7-7 with over five minutes left in the first quarter.
Following a 4-0 run by Mary Washington, Kimble ended the drought with a mid-range jumper. Greene's two free throws brought the game to a tie again, but the Eagles secured the final basket of the quarter, leading 13-11 heading into the second.
Greene opened the second quarter by splitting a pair of free throws, narrowing the deficit to 13-12. After Mary Washington did the same, Jessica Littlejohn tied the game at 14 with 8:07 on the clock. The teams continued to trade baskets, with Williams and Skai Bayless briefly putting Shenandoah ahead. However, back-to-back three-pointers by the Eagles shifted momentum, and despite two successful free throws from Krystofiak, Mary Washington closed the quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 27-25 lead into halftime.
The back-and-forth battle persisted in the third quarter. Campbell connected on her first two attempts of the half, but the Hornets endured a three-minute scoring drought, allowing the Eagles to extend their lead to 35-29. Williams ended the dry spell with a basket, and a late push, including two Greene jumpers and a pair of Williams free throws, tied the game at 37-37. However, Mary Washington took a slim one-point lead into the fourth after Addisyn Banks split a pair of free throws.
In the final period, Shenandoah struggled offensively, going scoreless for five and a half minutes while the Eagles built a 47-39 lead. Greene broke the drought with a jumper, sparking a mini-run that included key defensive stops and baskets from Krystofiak and two more free throws from Greene, cutting the deficit to 47-44 with 2:30 remaining. Kimble drilled her second three-pointer of the game, followed by another Greene jumper, but Mary Washington capitalized on their free throws down the stretch to hold on for a 56-49 victory.
UP NEXT
Shenandoah will host Washington and Lee on Saturday as part of a doubleheader with the men's team. The Hornets will seek revenge against the Generals following a narrow defeat earlier this season in Lexington. Tip-off for the women's game is scheduled for 2 p.m., with the men's contest to follow.
#GoSUHornets
