MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat women's basketball team played its first home contest of the 2023-24 season Wednesday night, battling the Carolina University Bruins inside McAlister Gymnasium. After trailing by double-digits heading into the final frame, the Cavaliers stormed back; however, the hosts fell by a 65-62 scoreline to drop to 0-2 on the young season.
 
Carolina (2-1) immediately jumped up on the Cavs as the Bruins led 6-2 out of the gates. Though Montreat notched a pair of baskets from Adrianna Gullette and went 5-for-6 at the free-throw line in the first quarter, CU held a slim advantage (12-9) through 10 minutes.
 
The Cavaliers struggled to shoot the ball in the opening half, connecting on just five of their 30 looks, and gave their opposition 12 extra possessions due to turnovers. Following a bucket and more shots at the line from Gullette, the home side drained just two other attempts in the period. Over the stretch, the Bruins built a double-digit edge, going up 28-17 before leading 30-22 at the break.
 
Shots at the charity stripe allowed the Cavs to stay within striking distance despite the shooting woes as a 12-for-14 first-half performance resulted in 12 of the team's 22 points. Carolina knocked down 30.6 percent (11-36 FG) of its looks, while keeping Montreat to 16.7 percent. Gullette registered a game-high 11 points in the opening half and Virginia Edmondson led both squads in rebounds with nine.
 
Each team then tallied its best offensive frame to that point as the players came out firing in the third quarter. Edmondson and Aebri Graham drained triples, but the Bruins answered both shots with points of their own. Though Gullette poured in another eight points in the period, Carolina expanded its advantage to as many as 14 to go up 52-39 with 10 minutes to play.
 
Needing a massive final stretch to come back in the matchup, Montreat chipped away at its deficit with intense pressure. CU grabbed a 16-point edge with 8:03 on the clock; however, by sharing the ball, limiting turnovers and connecting on layups the Cavaliers trimmed the gap from there. Gullette started an 18-4 run with an and-one, while Graham drilled a 3-pointer and Edmondson, Rymiah Sanders and Vaniyah Petty each notched four points to pull the Cavs within two (59-57) with just 1:41 left.
 
Sanders brought the home side within a possession again in the final minute and Gullette made it a 63-62 contest with 17 seconds in the game, but a pair of free throws from the Bruins sealed the Cavaliers' 3-point defeat. Montreat outscored Carolina 23-13 in the fourth frame, while utilizing six offensive rebounds to shoot 41.7 percent (10-24 FG) in the period.
 
The final 10 minutes resurrected the Cavs' field-goal percentage to 31.3 percent (20-64 FG) as the visitors shot 36.4 percent (24-66 FG) overall. The Cavaliers were more efficient from deep, making five of their 18 looks (27.8 percent) to the Bruins' 4-for-23 (17.4 percent) effort, as well as at the free-throw line (17-13) as both squads attempted 21 tries from the charity stripe.
 
Gullette captained all players with 25 points thanks to her 7-for-17 performance from the floor. Sanders added 11 points, while Edmondson (14) and Petty (10) snatched double-digit rebound totals. Edmondson's 14 boards marked the most in her career.
 
Women's basketball travels to Charlotte, N.C. for another non-conference showdown with Johnson & Wales University on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.