WINCHESTER, Va. – The Dickinson women's basketball team erased a nine-point third-quarter deficit to briefly take the lead, but host Shenandoah University used an 18-9 fourth quarter to secure a 62-52 non-conference win on Wednesday night inside the Wilkins Center. Esther Nlebemuo paced the Red and White with 15 points and six rebounds, while Clare Cronley added 11 points and five boards.
First Quarter
- After the Hornets collected the opening four points, a Cronley layup and Brooke Chang triple gave Dickinson a 5-4 edge with 7:57 remaining.
- Nlebemuo answered a Taylor Moran basket to put the visitors back in front, but Moran, Addisyn Banks and Skai Bayless combined for six straight to make it 12-7 with 4:52 left.
- Jelena Subasic finished inside off a feed from Lizzie McGrath, before a Moran three-pointer stretched the home advantage to six.
- Jessica Maina responded from deep and Nlebemuo added a basket to pull Dickinson within one. However, Moran scored as time expired to give Shenandoah a 17-14 lead after one.
Second Quarter
- The Devils opened the period with two Chang free throws and a Maina layup to move ahead 18-17 just 40 seconds in.
- Maddie Belan briefly restored the home lead, before Nlebemuo finished inside to give Dickinson a 20-19 advantage with 6:25 remaining.
- Unfortunately for the Red and White, a Moran free throw began a 10-0 Hornets run as Belan and Bayless joined in the scoring to make it 29-20 with 2:29 left.
- Chang stalled the push with a basket in the paint, but Moran answered with another triple. Cronley then connected from deep with 50 seconds remaining to send Dickinson into the break trailing 32-25.
Third Quarter
- Addison Cadwell opened the half with a layup, while Chang added another finish inside to keep Dickinson within five.
- However, baskets from Bayless and Moran extended the Hornets lead to 38-29 with 6:38 remaining.
- Nlebemuo scored in the paint and Cronley knocked down two free throws to trim the deficit, before Banks answered with a jumper to make it 40-33.
- McGrath then caught fire from deep, drilling consecutive triples to bring the visitors within 40-39 with 3:03 left.
- After Payton Brown scored for the hosts, Subasic hit a jumper and Cronley finished a layup to give Dickinson a 43-42 lead with 1:11 remaining.
- Late free throws from Banks and Belan allowed Shenandoah to reclaim a slim 44-43 edge entering the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
- Belan and Banks each knocked down two foul shots to extend the home lead to 48-43, before Nlebemuo supplied Dickinson's first basket of the period with 7:14 remaining.
- Nlebemuo answered an Anaya Wilson jumper with another layup to keep the Devils within three. However, Reagan Smith completed a three-point play and Wilson scored again to stretch the margin to 55-47 with 5:50 left.
- Cronley hit a jumper and Nlebemuo added two at the stripe, but baskets from Banks and Bayless helped the Hornets maintain a 60-51 cushion inside the final three minutes.
- Bayless converted two late free throws, while Nlebemuo split a pair at the other end to account for the 62-52 final.
Dickinson Top Performers
- Points – Nlebemuo (15), Cronley (11), Chang (9)
- Rebounds – Nlebemuo (6), Cronley and McGrath (5)
- Assists – McGrath (4), Nlebemuo (2)
- Steals – Chang, Maina and Nlebemuo (2)
Opponent Top Performers
- Points – Moran (19), Bayless (13), Banks (11), Belan (10)
- Rebounds – Bayless (7), Banks (6), Belan and Shavers (5)
- Assists – Banks (4), Moran and Shavers (2)
- Steals – Bayless and Moran (3), Shavers (2)
Up Next
