SU roundup: Hornets fall to Bishops

Daily Staff Reports - sports@nvdaily.com

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- Host N.C. Wesleyan broke open a close game with a huge run to start the second half of a 77-58 USA South men's basketball victory over Shenandoah Sunday afternoon.

The Bishops (9-8, 3-2 USA South) scored 25 of the initial 28 points in the second half to fuel the victory over Shenandoah (4-15, 2-4).

The Hornets trailed just 27-24 at the break and had multiple opportunities to return the game to level, but scored just one field goal in the opening 8:26 of the second stanza.

By the time that Matthew Thompson finally broke the streak with a jumper in the paint at 11:36, the Bishops led by 23 and Shenandoah never seriously threatened again.

SU refused to fold its tents, however, riding a wave of Dominic Chappell's 3-pointers to keep itself within shouting distance.

Chappell had five 3-pointers, all in the second half, to help keep the Hornets within 15 points for much of the remainder of the contest.

His final 3-pointer, with just over three minutes remaining, brought SU to within 13 at 67-54. Unfortunately for the Hornet faithful, Wesleyan answered with six straight points to finally seal the victory.

Chappell led SU with 15 points while Avery Green added 13 and James Bowens 10.

Shenandoah is off for the next six days until facing Averett at home in a 4:00 USA South Conference contest on Saturday, January 28.

Women's basketball
Greensboro 79, Shenandoah 67
WINCHESTER -- Visiting Greensboro College made its final USA South Conference trip to Winchester a positive one with a 79-67 women's basketball victory over Shenandoah Saturday afternoon.

The Pride (11-3, 7-2) shot 52 percent for the game to down SU (5-11, 2-7) for the fourth straight time.

The loss is also the Hornets fourth straight.

The two teams traded the lead twice and were tied other times, but GC took the lead for good on the strength of a 10-0 from the 14:52 to 11:13 marks of the first.

Shenandoah was able to cut the deficit to five points on two other occasions, but could get no closer.

Sophomore Katherine Hooker, on a last-second baseline stickback, brought SU to within six points, 36-30, at the break.

Unfortunately for the Shingleton Gymnasium crowd, the Pride scored the initial 10 points of the second half and the Hornets never seriously threatened again.

Greensboro eventually pushed its lead to 20 points with 2:37 remaining before coasting home to the 12-point victory.

Pre-season All-America Danielle Duncan led the Pride with a game-high 22 points.

Freshman Holly Chittenden had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts while Sam Akers added 17 points and Kerby Hatter 10.

Shenandoah is back in action on Tuesday at Ferrum in a 5:30 USA South Conference matchup.