STAUNTON, Va. - Shenandoah University earned its second straight USA South Conference victory with a 58-52 women's basketball win over Mary Baldwin.

The win is the fourth in the past five contests for SU (6-7, 2-4) and its fourth straight over Mary Baldwin (2-11, 0-7) on the Squirrels home floor.

Shenandoah led throughout the game, with Nicole Gilbertson giving the Hornets a lead they would not relinquish with her bucket in the paint 89 seconds into the contest.

Gilbertson's frontcourt mate, sophomore Haley Smith, added a bucket in the paint of her own 60 seconds after Gilbertson, and SU was off to the races.

The game-opening run eventually became 13 of the first 18 points, and Shenandoah led by at least four points until MBC scored five of the final six points of the first half.

Mandy Johnston stopped this run with a second half-opening 3-pointer; this 'trey' started a 7-2 run to start the second stanza.

SU maintained at least a six-point lead until the Squirrels got themselves back in it with one last run.

This run, 8-4 over a span of 5:29, cut the Hornets lead to 53-51 with 1:01 remaining.

Kerby Hatter, Sierra Edwards and Crystal Williams then iced the game by canning 5 of 6 free throws in the final 27 seconds.

Edwards led the victors with 15 points while Smith recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards.

Gilbertson had a game-high 13 rebounds and Shenandoah won the battle of the glass 54-45.

SU hosts Averett on Saturday at 2:00 in another USA South Conference contest.