Hollins at Shenandoah | Wednesday, November 8, 2023 | Winchester, Va.
 
The Basics 
Score: Shenandoah 65, Hollins 49  
Records: Hollins 0-1 / 0-1 ODAC | Hornets 1-0 / 1-0 ODAC

The Lead: Hollins kicked off the 2023-24 basketball season with a trip to Winchester to take on Shenandoah. Not only would it be the season opener but the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) debut for both teams. The Hornets, fresh off a trip to the 2023 ODAC Finals back in February, came into the matchup as the #2 pick in the ODAC Women's Basketball preseason poll. Shenandoah broke open a close game by closing the first half on an 8-0 run to seize control.  Hollins cut the lead to 10 heading into the fourth quarter but could get no closer as the Hornets took the ODAC win, 65-49.
Highlights 

• A three-pointer by Destiny Hoover made it 7-9 with 5:34 remaining in the first quarter. The Hornets used an 11-5 finish to take the lead into the second frame.
•  Missy Hazard hit her third triple of the first half and Hollins had cut it to 21-28, forcing a timeout by the home team. Out of the timeout, the Hornets responded in a big way, closing the half by scoring the final eight points and taking a 15-point edge into the break.
• The Hornets would maintain the lead until the closing stages of the third quarter. A Cabria Mutz turnaround jump shot followed by a steal and an Ariana Gutierrez three-ball would see the score 41-51 going into the finale.
• In the final three minutes of play, a 6-0 run by the home team would put the game out of reach as Hollins fell in their opener, 65-49.
• Gutierrez (14) and Hazard (11) combined to go 7-12 from long range to pace the Green and Gold. Zaria Holden finished with seven points and four rebounds while Mutz and Hoover each scored five.

Up Next: Hollins makes a trip to Staunton on Saturday to face Mary Baldwin in a non-conference matchup.