The Bridgewater women’s basketball squad snapped a three-game losing streak with an 87-71 victory Wednesday evening over Shenandoah University in ODAC action.
After trading points with the Hornets in an opening period that finished with the Eagles holding a 24-22 lead, Bridgewater clamped down on the defensive end in the second period to open up a 46-29 advantage at the half.
The Hornets scored the first six points of the game and held the lead until the 1:42 mark of the opening period when Jessica Lam hit two foul shots for a 20-19 Bridgewater lead.
Morgan Kuhns knocked down a 3-pointer to put the visitors up 22-20 before Oshene Kelly scored from in close and Lam added two more free throws, giving the Eagles a 24-22 lead after the first period.
The Eagles held Shenandoah to just one bucket in the first six minutes of the second period and opened up a 37-24 lead.
Lam opened the period with a 3-pointer and Briana Moore added a jumper for a 29-22 Eagles lead. After a bucket by Shenandoah’s Erin French, Bridgewater reeled off eight unanswered points to take control. Kaitlyn Lehan worked inside for a bucket and Cassidy Burkholder added a layup, putting the Eagles on top 33-24. Lam drove the lane for a bucket and Moore connected on a mid-range jumper, making the score 37-24 with 3:38 left in the first half.
French broke the Hornets’ scoring drought, but Burkholder tacked on a pair of buckets to push the Eagles lead to 41-26 with two minutes left in the half.
The lead stayed at 15 until Tyler Pinder connected on a jumper in the final minute of play to send the Eagles to the locker room with a 46-29 lead.
Bridgewater outscored the Hornets 14-7 during the first four minutes of the second half to take its biggest lead of the night.
Bridgewater’s Kelly sandwiched a pair of inside hoops around a jumper by the Hornets Shannon Kuhn as the Eagles’ lead grew to 50-31.
After a 3-pointer by Shenandoah’s Olivia Callan made it 50-34, the Eagles scored seven straight to lead by 23 points. Strom scored on a backdoor cut and Kelly powered up for a bucket, making the score 54-34. Strom then added a 3-ball for a 57-34 lead.
Shenandoah’s Kanesha Foster scored on a driving layup, but Lam converted a three-point play, giving the Eagles a 60-34 lead with 6:09 left in the third period.
The Hornets fought back and a 15-1 run cut the Eagles lead to 61-49 with 3:42 left in the third period. The Eagles got back on track and traded points with the Hornets for the final three minutes of the quarter. Kirstyn Arcata’s layup in the final minute, pulled the Hornets to within 11, 69-58, heading into the fourth period.
Shenandoah cut the margin to nine points four times in the final 10 minutes but could get no closer as the Eagles closed out the 87-71 victory.
Burkholder posted her fifth double-double in the past seven games to pace the Eagles. The senior guard finished with 22 points and matched her career-high with 13 rebounds. She was joined in double figures by four teammates. Lam matched Burkholder with 22 points and Kelly scored 14. Moore tallied 13 points and Strom added 11. Moore also added a team-high six assists.
The Hornets placed four players in double figures, led by Foster’s 21 points. French recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards.
The Eagles made 36-of-57 shots for a blistering 63.2 percent. Bridgewater hit exactly 50 percent from 3-point range with a 7-for-14 effort. Shenandoah made 30-of-71 shots for 42.3 percent.
Bridgewater, now 8-9 overall and 4-5 in the ODAC, returns to action Saturday afternoon when the Eagles travel to Lynchburg to play Randolph College. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.
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