Women Advance to Semis

WINCHESTER, Va. - The Shenandoah University women's basketball team will be advancing to the USA South Conference Tournament semi-finals for the second time in three years after downing fifth-seeded Averett 76-64 Tuesday night.

The No. 4 Hornets (15-11) will take on No. 1 Greensboro at 2:00 Friday in the tournament semi-finals at Christopher Newport. GC advanced with an 85-48 win over No. 8 NCWC.

Although the lead swapped back and forth six times in the first 20 minutes of play, Shenandoah was able to take a 38-31 lead into the lockerroom and never let its lead dip below five points following the break.

Averett (14-12) cut it to that five-point deficit with the opening bucket of the second half, but SU scored nine of the game's next 11 points to take a 47-35 lead by the 15:58 mark and was never seriously threatened again.

The lead never see single digits for the remainder of the contest, and coach Michelle Guyant-Holloway's club eventually pushed the advantage out to 19 points before coasting home to the victory.

Freshman Mandy Johnston led five women in double figures with 14 points while Katherine Flint added 13, Alexis Hargbol and Sierra Edwards 12 each and Stephanie Harrold 10 with 10 rebounds.

Cougars senior Taylor Poirer had a game-high 27 points in the losing effort.

Shenandoah held a 45-38 advantage on the boards, scored 32 points in the paint and 29 off of 22 AU turnovers.

Box Score