GREENSBORO, N.C - The Guilford College women's basketball team (16-3, 7-3 ODAC) held their ground for the entirety of play against Shenandoah University (14-5, 6-4 ODAC). One possession at a time, the Quakers would climb back from a 13-point deficit in overtime against the Hornets to obtain an important Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) victory, 80-75, on Jack Jensen Court inside the Ragan-Brown Fieldhouse on Friday evening.
It was a slow beginning to the game for Guilford as the Quaker-offense was held to shooting 11-32 (34.4%) from the field and 3-8 (37.5%) at the three-point arc at the end of the half. Shenandoah ruled the floor from time of possession in the first two quarters, launching 14-31 (45.1%) shots from the field and 3-8 (37.5%) shots from the three-point line. The Hornets depth would prove costly heading into the intense moments throughout regulation with zero points scored in the contest. Shenandoah wore down defensively with time ticking-down, driving the Quakers to shoot 17-32 (53.1%) from the field and 4-8 (50.0%) from the three-point line after the halftime break.
All five Quaker-starters would hit double-digit figures as
Anna Giannopoulou (Athens, Greece) led the charge with her fourth-straight double-double, ninth on the season, from 22 points scored. Giannopoulou was offensively-stout, shooting 9-16 (56.3%) from the field, 1-2 (50.0%) from the three-point line, and 3-4 (75.0%) from the free-throw line. Defensively, Giannopoulou controlled the paint with eight defensive rebounds, four blocks, and two steals.
Briahna Scott (Graham, N.C.) would follow-suit with a solid 14-point outing on both sides of the ball. Scott would shoot 6-11 (54.5%) from the field and 2-4 from the three-point arc, with five steals in the process.
Markayla Massenburg (Raleigh, N.C.) created many scoring drives on the floor in her 12-point performance shooting 4-13 (30.8%) from the field, 1-5 (20.0%) from the three-point arc, and 3-3 (100.0%) on her free throws.
Julianna Walter (Taylorsville, N.C.) and
Taylor Dunn (Charlotte, N.C.) would contribute on both sides of the ball, both recording 12 and 11 points respectively, off their established scoring opportunities from five combined steals and fouls drawn, resulting in shooting 10-14 (71.4%) combined from the line.
Two lone players would direct the floor for the Hornets as Addisyn Banks would drive Shenandoah to a possible comeback off her double-double with 27 points scored. Banks would fire 11-22 (50.0%) from the field and 3-7 (42.8%) from the three-point arc, with 11 rebounds, nine defensively, and three steals overall. Emily Williams followed-suit in her double-double, launching 11-18 (61.1%) from the line and 3-5 (60.0%) from the free-throw line, with 10 rebounds, one block, and one steal for a 25-point showing.
The contest would commence with the Quakers not finding their footing defending the arc, resulting in an early back-and-forth affair with Shenandoah leading 19-16 through one quarter.
Guilford would not perform much better in the second period, causing the Hornets to push their lead further off back-to-back threes from Brynna Nesselrodt along with six-points from Banks's conversions in the paint to give the Hornets 33-26 lead heading into the break.
Important jumpers from
Elly Trickett (Greer, S.C.) would propel the Quakers back into contention in the third, eliminating the Hornets lead heading into the final quarter, 52-50, in favor of the Quakers.
Foul trouble would falter Guilford in the concluding moments of the final period, driving Shenandoah to tie the contest, 71-71, at the end of regulation off two drained free throws by Williams.
The Quakers would hold the Hornets to only four points scored in overtime, overwhelming the Shenandoah defensive-front to fouling issues in the concluding moments, soaring Guilford to a supreme 80-75 conference victory.
Guilford will travel up route-29 for a road conference battle against the University of Lynchburg on Wednesday, February 4th inside Turner Gymnasium. Tip-off begins at 7:30 PM.
#GoQuakes
