Gophers Drop Season Opener to Shenandoah

TOWSON, Md. - Visiting Shenandoah University, the defending Old Dominion Athletic Conference women's basketball champions, staked itself to an early lead it would not relinquish as it downed Goucher College 80-26 in non-conference action Tuesday evening at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.  The game marked the season opener for both schools.

• Shenandoah (1-0) sank two free throws 27 seconds into the game to take an early lead.
• A basket by Goucher's (0-1) Sydney Nwuli (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) with 9:07 on the clock tied the game 2-2.
• The Hornets scored the next 17 points before a Briyah Haggins (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) free throw with 2:43 left in the quarter halted the run.
• The guests led 26-4 after 10 minutes.

• Haggins made a layup on Goucher's first possession of the second quarter.
• Shenandoah scored the next eight points before a Haggins basket just past the midway mark of the half.
• The Hornets scored the final 13 points of the quarter as they took a 47-8 lead into intermission.

• Kyani Quarles (Houston, Texas/Cristo Rey Jesuit) had the first five points of the quarter for Goucher, including three free throws.
• Haggins knocked down a three-pointer with 2:42 left in the quarter.
• SU led 72-16 with 10 minutes to play.

• First year Darby Sherman (Neptune, N.J./St. Rose) knocked down a three 45 seconds into the final quarter.
• Kya Taylor (Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie County) also had her first collegiate points in the final frame.

• Shenandoah shot 54.1% for the contest and knocked down six of its 14 three-point attempts, while the Gophers were 8-51 from the floor.
• The Hornets held a 44-32 rebounding advantage.
• Haggins led the Gophers with 11 points and grabbed four rebounds, while Quarles finished with six points and grabbed nine rebounds.
• Haggins double-digit scoring effort was the fourth of her career for the sophomore.
• Nwuli added six boards for Goucher, which was playing its first game for first-year head coach Joya Whittington.

• Goucher hosts the second annual Renie Amoss Memorial Tip-Off on Friday and Saturday.
• The Gophers face Neumann on Friday at 5:30 at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center and will battle Arcadia at 4:30 pm on the tournament's second day.