By Tatiana Monsen

LYNCHBURG, Va.—The Southern Virginia women's basketball team opened the 2016-17 season with a tough 71-63 loss against Randolph College.

Senior Morgan Hartvigsen scored the first bucket for the Knights (0-1), but the Wildcats (1-0) closed out the quarter on a 22-11 run.  Hartvigsen would finish with a total of eight points, including two three-pointers.

Junior Shelby Winsor recorded a double-double with 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Leilani Hansen led the Knights with 14 points, shooting 50% from the field. Merideth Ouellette came off the bench, scoring 13 points.

The Wildcats shot 39.1% from the field compared to the Knights 31.4%. Southern Virginia held Randolph scoreless from behind the arc.

Southern Virginia travels to Notre Dame University of Maryland for a weekend tournament.  Game one is against Chatham on Friday, November 18 at 8 p.m. and game two on Saturday will be determined.