BUENA VISTA, VA. — Starting off the season strong, the Southern Virginia University Women's Basketball team dominated in their season opener in Knight Arena, taking down Randolph-Macon 74-56.
Speaking with Head Coach Lynnette Schroder after the game, she stated "the team was eager to get on the court after being shorted a scrimmage in the preseason, and the players were anxious to play against real opposition."
In her first career game with the Knights, freshman Abbigail Snyder recorded a game-high 16 points, going 5-for-9 from the field and 3-for-4 from behind the arc. Following behind Snyder,
Addison Newman added 14 points off five field goals and two three-pointers, along with five rebounds.
Southern Virginia bench outscored Randolph Macon's 28-20 while the Knights dominated points in the paint, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 34-20. Defensively, Southern Virginia owned the boards, collecting 33 total rebounds compared to Randolph's 26.
Veteran
Emma Camden led the teams in rebounds with six, followed by Newman and Presley Heggie with four. First year player, Eve Schmalbeck and senior
Courtney McKrola, both added the lone blocks on the night for the squad.
After going down 4-0, the Yellow Jackets composed themselves and maintained a three-point lead the entirety of the first quarter before a three-pointer by Haley Pasqualone extended the team's lead to six points, 21-15, at the end of the first quarter.
With eight minutes on the clock in the second quarter, Snyder hit her first career three-pointer, shaking off the nerves she stated having before the game. Snyder's three led the team on a 9-2 run to grab their first lead, 27-25, since the first quarter. Southern Virginia carried their advantage into the halftime break, leading Randolph-Macon 35-34.
The Knights came out of the break swinging, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 27-6, shooting 52.94 percent from the field and 50 percent from three while hitting all five free throws. The team's third quarter dominance led them into the fourth quarter with the 62-40 lead.
Although outscoring Southern Virginia in the fourth, 16-12, Randolph Macon could not complete the comeback, falling 74-56.
For the most up to date information regarding Southern Virginia University Women's Basketball, visit knightathletics.com and follow the team on Instagram @knight_wbb.
