BUENA VISTA, VA - The Southern Virginia Women's Basketball team faced a tough setback against Shenandoah University, succumbing to a 59-51 defeat in a challenging second half.
The first quarter saw an early back-and-forth battle, with the score tied at 8-8. Ruth Kempler and Maria Savvun contributed crucial layups, guiding the Knights into the second quarter with a slim lead of 13-12.
The second quarter mirrored the first, marked by hard-fought basketball. A scoring drought in the first five minutes was broken only by a lone layup from Alyssa Weiland. A three-pointer from Shenandoah's Maddie Kimble tied the game at 15 apiece. The Knights responded with a seven-point streak, highlighted by a Maria Savvun three, allowing them to enter halftime with a 26-20 lead.
Out of the half, the Knights extended their lead with a three-pointer from Abigail Snyder, going up seven at 30-23. However, Shenandoah's offense ignited, putting up 27 points in the quarter, their highest for the season.
The Knights rallied back, regaining the lead with a free throw from Emma Camden, making it 39-38 with two minutes remaining. However, a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the Hornets gave them a 47-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, the duo of Aysia Foster and Maria Savvun narrowed the lead to just three. Despite a valiant effort in the closing minutes, the Knights couldn't capitalize on opportunities and ultimately fell 51-59.
Abigail Snyder posted a double-double for the Knights, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Aysia Foster led the team in scoring with 12 points and two blocks, while Maria Savvun closely followed with 11 points.
Southern Virginia dominated the boards, outrebounding Shenandoah 41-32 and scoring in the paint 34-24. However, challenges in transition and three-point shooting proved decisive in the outcome.
The team now has a brief respite before preparing for a matchup against Randolph College on Saturday, December 16th, at 4 pm. The teams are evenly matched, each holding two wins in their previous encounters, with the last game played in 2017.
For the most up-to-date information and details about the team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_wbb on Instagram.
