GREENSBORO, N.C - Julianna Walter (Taylorsville, N.C.) and
Anna Giannopoulou (Athens, Greece) would lead the charge as the Guilford College women's basketball team (1-0, 0-0 ODAC) clashed in their season opener in a tight-knit affair throughout all four periods. The Quakers would eventually pull-away late in a 63-55 Voorhees University (2-2, 0-0 NAIA), on Jack Jensen Court in the Ragan-Brown Field House on Wednesday evening.
This win marks the seventh-straight season opening victory for Guilford. This battle will become the first victory for the Quakers in tonight's initial meeting against Voorhees University in the history of both institutions.
Walter held the top scoring performance for Guilford with 15 points, shooting 4-9 from the three-point line, and adding three steals defensively in the process. Giannopoulou would follow-suit with 12 points of her own, displaying perfection at the free-throw line going 6-6, while adding two steals and blocks in the process.
Markayla Massenburg (Raleigh, N.C.) was solid for the Quakers in scoring, firing an 11-point performance and logging 5-15 on field goals. Nevertheless, Massenburg was commanding on defense on the night, retrieving eight rebounds, and snagging three steals.
Taylor Dunn (Charlotte, N.C.) was in control on defense, leading the squad with six steals, nevertheless being consistent in ball-possession, launching .286 three-point percentage.
Standout performers on offense for Voorhees included Shy'Kiera Brown who led the team with 13 points, shooting 4-13 from the field and 3-7 from the three-point line. Kierra Diggs was also strong for the Tigers in her double-digit point performance, blasting 4-13 from the field and 4-6 from the free-throw line.
The game would tip-off slowly with opening fouls from defensive miscues by Voorhees, driving Giannapolou and
Briahna Scott (Graham, N.C.) to log the opening points for Guilford. The Quakers would cruise in finding numerous scoring chances in the opening period, however only converting in 5-25 of those opportunities.
Guilford would flip the script in the second period, cashing in on 50% of their field goals and three-pointers.
Ja'Kiyah Moore (Knightdale, N.C.),
Markayah Johnson (Baltimore, Md.), and
Karly Glahn (Charlotte, N.C.) would each add on to the Quakers point-total in their commanding lead, 40-29, heading to the half.
The third period would only serve up defensive action, as many steals and turnovers would amount on both sides of the ball. Guilford would continue being on point in their two-point tries, converting 25% in the field during the period.
Voorhees would inch closer in the final minutes, tallying 16 points in the quarter. However, field conversions in the concluding seconds by Massenburg would drive Guilford to their seventh-straight season opening victory, 63-55, over Voorhees at home.
The Quakers are heading on the road for a non-conference battle against the Knights of Southern Virginia University on Saturday, November 15th at Knight Arena, tip-off beginning at 7:00 PM.
#GoQuakes
