WALESKA, Ga.— The Montreat College women's basketball team went on the road to take on the Reinhardt University Eagles on Saturday afternoon. The Cavaliers fell to the Eagles by a final score of 79-46. As a result of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest, the Cavs now sit at 6-12 (4-8 AAC) on the year, while Reinhardt improved to 13-5 (10-1 AAC).
The offense for Montreat was initiated by Ella Kate Walraven's 3-pointer early into the quarter. The game was a back-and-forth affair to start, but Sarah Williams added a jumper and two free throws to extend the Cavaliers' advantage to 9–6 with just under six minutes left to play.
As the latter half of the quarter began to unfold, Reinhardt started to surge ahead. The Eagles put up 14 unanswered points, and the first period concluded with the hosts leading 20-9.
Momentum for RU continued as the second quarter kicked off, scoring the initial five points of the frame. A layup from Bayleigh Winkler put a stop to the 19-0 Reinhardt run. Montreat also began to show some life from the 3-point line as back-to-back makes from Se'Nai Camper and Williams at the 5:02 mark brought the score to 31-19 with the Eagles still leading.
With the halftime break drawing near, the hosts only continued to extend their lead. Montreat closed the quarter with some more scoring from Camper beyond the arc. Despite those efforts, Reinhardt preserved a double-digit lead, ending the quarter ahead 37-25.
Both teams faced a challenging third quarter, with each side struggling to find the bottom of the basket. Rymiah Sanders managed to break the drought with a jumper at the 6:43 mark, but turnovers hindered momentum. The Eagles started to find some rhythm scoring the ball, utilizing a 12-0 spurt through the middle of the period put them ahead 49-27 with 2:55 left to go.
A 3-pointer from Camper snapped the run, but those were the last points from either team as the clock wound down. With only 17 points scored between both squads, defense proved to be the theme of the third quarter. The frame closed with the Cavaliers trailing 49-30 heading into the final quarter of play.
Montreat kicked off the fourth quarter facing additional adversity as Reinhardt executed a strong offensive start. Despite the pressure, Williams took control for the Cavs, contributing eight of their first nine points, narrowing the gap slightly. As the quarter progressed, RU extended its lead with efficient scoring in the paint and from the perimeter. With just over four minutes left to play, the Eagles maintained a 66-39 edge.
In the latter half, Montreat continued to fight back, seeing contributions from Alyssa Keener and Sanders, who added points in the paint and from beyond the arc. However, Reinhardt's defensive efforts, including multiple steals, prevented the Cavaliers from significantly closing the gap. The game ultimately concluded with Reinhardt leading 79-46.
Taking a look at the game, Montreat shot 32.0 percent from the field (16-50 FG) and 36.4 percent from three (8-22 3-pt FG). Defensively, the Cavs held Reinhardt to shooting 42.2 percent overall (27-64 FG) and 36.4 percent from deep (8-22 3-pt FG). The Eagles held advantages in rebounds (40-37) and steals (13-2), while both teams were evenly matched in assists with nine.
Williams led the Cavs with 15 points, converting 5-of-5 free throws and hitting two 3-pointers. Sanders added nine points, making four field goals, and a couple of rebounds. Camper contributed 12 points, including four 3-pointers, and collected a career-best nine boards. Winkler posted eight rebounds and scored four points.
Looking ahead, Montreat will host Johnson University on Wednesday, Jan. 21. The matchup is set for 5:30 p.m. at McAlister Gymnasium in Montreat, N.C.
