Central Shenandoah News

Eagles Sting Hornets on the Road

The Bridgewater College women's basketball team picked up another huge ODAC victory with a 60-53 win over Shenandoah on SaturdayTHE BASICSFinal Score: Bridgewater 60, Shenandoah 53Records: Bridgewater 15-5, 10-4 ODAC; Shenandoah 13-8, 8-6 ODACHOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles opened the scoring as Abby Branner nailed a triple giving BC an early 3-0 lead. The Hornets responded with a layup in transition a few minutes later off a Bridgewater turnover, but the following trip down the floor Riley Corcoran made a tough layup and was fouled. The freshman completed the three-point play, giving BC a 6-2 advantage two and a half minutes in. Despite the early lead, Shenandoah closed the quarter on a 9-3 run to take an 11-9 edge into the second frame. Another Branner three was the only BC field goal in the final seven minutes and change of the first quarter.
• It took both sides over three minutes to get in the score column during the second quarter. SU nailed a triple to extend its lead, but India Dailey broke into the scorebook with a jumper to stop any chances for a scoring run. BC took the momentum and capitalized, a pair of triples from Kayla Ford sparked a 10-2 for the Eagles to take a 21-17 lead. The Eagles extended the advantage out to as much as six but six unanswered from the Hornets in the final 1:18 tied the game 24-24 at the intermission.
• The squads traded buckets to open the half, before Shenandoah pushed ahead thanks to three consecutive layups, 32-26. Bridgewater returned the favor with six straight points of their own to tie the game, but a pair of free throws gave the Hornets the lead back. After a make at the charity stripe from Jay Garcia, the Eagles defense made a quick stop and turned it into a made three from Corcoran to take their first lead of the second half. SU countered ad with an Emily Williams layup late in the shot clock and surged forward with a 10-2 run over the final 2:40 in the frame to take a 44-38 lead into the fourth quarter.
• The Bridgewater defense went to work in the fourth quarter. Shenandoah opened the first 4:49 of the period without a field goal. The Eagles capitalized on the offensive end with four free throws from Corcoran and five huge points from Abby Freeman to jump ahead 49-45 after opening the fourth on an 11-1 run.
• SU did not go down without a fight. Shenandoah ended the scoring drought with a triple from Gabby Krystofiak to draw to within one. A pair of free throws from Corcoran pushed the BC advantage back to three points with 3:16 to play. Shenandoah was able to make one of two at the charity stripe to make it 51-49 with under three minutes to play, but layups from Freeman and Branner on consecutive trips pushed the Eagles further out in front. After the Branner make Shenandoah called a timeout trailing by six. Terese Greene knocked down a jumper for the home side out of the stoppage to make it a four-point game. Unable to force a turnover, SU was forced to foul. Corcoran made another pair from the charity stripe forcing Shenandoah to push the pace. A miss from Greene forced another foul after Freeman grabbed the board. The Glen Allen, Va. native knocked down both free throws to seal the deal.

MATCH FACTS

• Corcoran led BC offensively with 16 points. Branner was the only other Eagle in double figure with 10.
• Greene scored a game-high 24 points and Shawnise Campbell joined her in double figures with 11 and added 13 rebounds.
• Garcia grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds. Branner and Corcoran each added four boards respectively.
• Free throw shooting was a difference maker on the afternoon. BC was 17/22 from the charity stripe for a 77.3% mark while the Hornets shot just 54.5% at the line.
• The Abbys closed the game out strong as both Branner and Freeman made three of their last four shots from the field.

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