LYNCHBURG, Va. –  Shenandoah University opened its 2011-12 women's basketball season in the same manner it opened the 2010-11 campaign, with a non-league victory over future ODAC opponent Lynchburg College.

Tuesday evening, the SU Hornets (1-0) were 58-54 victors over the LC Hornets (0-1) in the final non-conference game between the two schools.

Shenandoah won the 2010 contest 57-36 in Winchester.

After trailing 24-22 at the break, SU quickly retook the lead on a Mandy Johnston 3-pointer 23 seconds into the second.

Lynchburg was able to answer with a Caitlin Falls layup 29 seconds later, but this would be the final LC Hornets' lead of the contest.

Junior Nicole Gilbertson, who led all players with 12 rebounds, drained a pair from the charity stripe at 18:39 to start an 8-0 run for Shenandoah and SU appeared to have the game under control.

But LC had other ideas.

An 11-5 Lynchburg run brought the game back to level at 8:46 before senior Abby Gallagher nailed the second of her two 3-pointers on the ensuing trip down the floor and SU now led for good.

Lynchburg was able to cut the deficit to one point on three more occasions, the last with 6:19 remaining, before Shenandoah scored 11 of the game's next 15 points to ice the contest.

Sophomore Sam Akers paced the victors with a game-high 15 points while Johnston added 12 and Gallagher 10.

Gilbertson had eight points to go along with her game-high 12 boards.

Shenandoah continues non-conference play with its participation in the Muhlenberg Tournament Friday and Saturday. SU plays the host Mules in Friday's opening round.