LEXINGTON, Va. – Facing a nationally ranked opponent, the Guilford College women's basketball team came up short against No. 14/17 Washington and Lee University, 69-53, in a hard-fought Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) matchup at Holekamp Gym in Lexington, Va., on Saturday afternoon.
This contest marked the 58th meeting between the two programs, with the Quakers dropping to 11-7 overall and 5-5 in conference play. Meanwhile, the Generals improved to a 16-2 overall record, 8-1 in ODAC play, and extended their record against Guilford to 38-21.
Anna Giannopoulou (Athens, Greece) led the Quakers with 12 points, four rebounds, and three steals, notching her third straight road game with ten or more points.
Courtney McMillan (Lexington, N.C.) added nine points and six rebounds, while
Zoe Bayer (Les Sables d'Olonne, France) contributed nine points, three assists, and three steals.
Briahna Scott (Graham, N.C.),
Taylor Dunn (Charlotte, N.C.), and
Skyler Furr (Warrenton, Va.) each pitched in five points to round out the Quakers' scoring efforts.
The Generals were led by Sarah Zimmerman, who notched a season-high 20 points along with seven rebounds and three steals. Mary Schleusner recorded a double-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks. Notably, the junior was held to a lower-than-usual scoring mark due to Guilford's strong defensive effort, forcing her into seven turnovers, her third most of the season, and limiting her to one of her lowest scoring outputs of the year. Teammate Quinn McGuinness added seven points and six assists.
Guilford came out strong in the first quarter, determined to challenge the Generals. The Quakers' defensive intensity led to a missed three-pointer by Elka Prechel, which
Julianna Walter (Taylorsville, N.C.) recovered and converted into a fast-break layup for the game's first points. However, Washington and Lee responded with a 7-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer and two layups, before Scott answered with a middy. Despite Guilford's solid defensive effort, the Generals closed the first quarter with a 15-10 lead.
The second quarter proved to be the turning point of the game, as Washington and Lee erupted offensively. The Generals shot 4-for-8 from beyond the arc and outscored Guilford 25-2 in the period. Prechel and Zimmerman led the charge, combining for several key baskets to extend the lead. Meanwhile, Guilford struggled to find its offensive rhythm, managing just one field goal in the quarter. McMillan contributed at the free-throw line, but the Quakers were unable to keep pace with the Generals' efficiency. By halftime, Washington and Lee held a commanding 40-15 advantage.
Coming out of the break, the Quakers regrouped and delivered a much-improved performance in the third quarter. Bayer and McMillan sparked the offense with a pair of free throws and a layup to start the period. McMillan continued to assert herself in the paint, scoring multiple times, while
Carleigh Perry (Faith, N.C.) joined in on the fun with a lay-up of her own. Defensively, Guilford stepped up, holding the Generals to just eight points in the quarter. Dunn closed out the period with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, giving the Quakers a 21-8 edge in the quarter and cutting the lead to 48-36 heading into the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, the Quakers continued to battle but struggled to overcome the Generals' depth and balanced attack. Zimmerman led Washington and Lee with seven points inside the arc, while Schleusner dominated on the boards, securing a game-high 13 rebounds. Giannopoulou kept Guilford in the game, converting free throws and scoring seven points from the field. Bayer and Scott each knocked down a clutch three-pointer, but their efforts weren't enough to close the gap. The Generals' strong inside presence and consistent scoring down the stretch sealed the 69-53 victory for the home team.
The Quakers will look to snap their three-game losing streak when they return home to face Christopher Newport University on Wednesday, January 29. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 PM.
#GoQuakes
