MONTREAT, N.C. — The Montreat College women's basketball team earned a 79-61 victory over Bob Jones University on Friday evening, using a pivotal 15-0 run in the first quarter to establish an early lead. With the win, the Cavaliers improved to 3-2 overall, while BJU fell to 1-2.
After briefly falling behind 2-0, Montreat responded with 15 unanswered points to take a 15-2 lead just over three minutes into the opening quarter. The Cavs connected on seven consecutive field goals during the stretch, with Ayanna Varela, Katie Alexander, Se'Nai Camper and Sarah Williams all contributing. The Cavaliers' defensive pressure also forced eight turnovers and generated six steals in the first period. Williams added a 3-pointer before assisting Camper on another shot from beyond the arc. Alexander later found Mariia Fedoseeva for a triple, extending the lead to 23-8 with 3:27 remaining. Bob Jones scored the final five points of the quarter to cut the deficit to 23-13.
Williams opened the second quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers, receiving assists from Alexander and EK Walraven, respectively. Alexander followed with a 3-point make off a Kailah Crawford assist, pushing Montreat's advantage to 32-16 with just under seven minutes left in the half. The Cavs continued to capitalize on turnovers as Varela converted a steal into a fastbreak layup before Walraven connected from beyond the arc to make it 39-19. During the final 1:17, Crawford knocked down four free throws while the Bruins committed two more turnovers. Alexander added a steal and fastbreak layup, and Camper scored in the closing seconds prior to the visitors converting at the free-throw line, sending the teams into halftime with the hosts ahead, 52-27.
Alexander began the third quarter with a block before Fedoseeva recorded another rejection at the 7:55 mark. Varela converted an offensive rebound into a layup less than two minutes in, while the Bruins responded with consecutive baskets to trim the margin to 54-33. Williams answered with a 3-pointer off a Walraven assist. Walraven then recorded two steals within 33 seconds, turning the second into a transition three-point play to extend the Cavaliers' lead to 60-35. Williams connected from beyond the arc again with 1:53 remaining. After Bob Jones knocked down two late triples, Fedoseeva scored in the paint and Varela finished a fastbreak opportunity, giving the hosts a 67-41 advantage entering the final quarter.
The Cavs answered Bob Jones' opening basket of the fourth frame with a Williams jumper, an Alexander 3-pointer and a Varela fastbreak layup following a steal. The sequence pushed the hosts' lead to 74-43 just over two minutes into the period, marking its largest advantage of the night. Fedoseeva added a jumper in the paint after another Bruins basket, but BJU took advantage of Cavalier misses and turnovers to cut the deficit to 76-52. Camper stopped the run with two free throws at the 4:02 mark. Amaya Gallegos added a late free throw, and the Cavaliers secured the victory after Williams grabbed a defensive rebound to close out the 79-61 result.
"I was really proud of our defense, especially in the first half," said Head Coach Jamie Moore. "That's been an area we've needed to clean up, and we looked much better in gaps and rotations. Our offense executed well, and we are finally shooting the way we know we can. This was a great game for us, and we are excited to start conference play on Wednesday."
Montreat shot 44.6 percent from the field (29-65 FG), 38.5 percent from 3-point range (10-26 3-pt FG) and 84.6 percent at the free-throw line (11-13 FT). The Cavs held Bob Jones to 35.8 percent shooting from the floor (19-53 FG), 31.8 percent from beyond the arc (7-22 3-pt FG) and 61.5 percent at the line (16-26 FT). The hosts totaled 19 steals and forced Bob Jones into 33 turnovers, converting those miscues into 35 points.
Williams led the Cavaliers with 23 points, shooting 9-of-17 from the field and connecting on a season-high five 3-pointers. Alexander added 14 points, four assists, three rebounds and a block, while Varela finished with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting and seven rebounds. Varela also matched her career high with six steals. Camper contributed 10 points, and Walraven recorded eight points, four steals and two assists.
The Cavs continue their three-game homestand on Wednesday, Nov. 11, when they open Appalachian Athletic Conference play against Union Commonwealth University. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside McAlister Gymnasium.
