FERRUM, Va. – Third-seeded Ferrum College eliminated Shenandoah University from the 2011 USA South Conference women's basketball tournament with a 79-54 victory Tuesday afternoon at Swartz Gymnasium.
The Panthers (18-9) move on to Friday's semi-finals to take on second-seeded Christopher Newport with their victory over Shenandoah (12-14).
The win for FC is the 20th straight over the Hornets.
The two teams traded the lead on six occasions in the first 2:08 of the contest before Ferrum took total control with a 15-4 run over a span of 4:57.
Katy Kipps capped this spurt with one of two from the line with 12:55 left to push the Panthers lead into double digits for the first time.
Freshman Sara D'Amico stopped the FC run by draining a jumper on the Hornets ensuing possession following Kipps' foul shot, but the damage was done.
Shenandoah would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way and the Panther lead ballooned to as much as 17 in the opening stanza.
The Hornets did score six of the final nine points of the first to cut the deficit to 44-30 by halftime.
D'Amico continued this run to start the second with a 3-pointer at the 19:37 mark, but Ferrum had an answer.
The Panthers scored 17 of the game's next 21 points to take its biggest lead, 24 points, with just over 13 minutes remaining.
However, SU refused to fold its tents, scoring eight straight points to remain within striking distance.
Ferrum completed the game with a 6-2 run to provide the final margin of victory.
Tesla Akers, Shea Smith and Kristen Keith all scored in double figures with Keith leading this group by scoring 18 points.
Junior Kerby Hatter paced the Hornets with 10.