SALEM, Va. – Stevenson women's basketball finished on top 63-61 after battling for the lead consistently through the game against the Roanoke College Maroons in the start of the Jean Beamer Tip-Off Classic on Saturday evening.
 
The Maroons got on the board first following a foul at start time. The Mustangs got their first lead shortly after with a layup from sophomore guard Erin Dixon. A Roanoke layup seconds later changed the lead, but the Mustangs were able to tie 6-6 at 7:29 thanks to Dixon. Stevenson saw two more scoring opportunities, ending the opening quarter behind, 25-11.
 
Sophomore forward Tessa Boswell found an early second-quarter opportunity 33 seconds into play. At 8:17, junior guard Jaidyn Harris added a three pointer, tightening the gap to 28-16, still in the Maroons' favor. Harris brought the team to 20 points as the clock counted down. First-year center Amanda Nwankwo added two layups and a successful free throw series, bringing the team to 27 points. The Mustangs went into halftime behind 36-29.
 
Boswell had the first scoring opportunity in the third at 8:38, and the Mustangs managed another tie at 46-46 thanks to a three pointer from first-year guard Elia Richardson with 1:39 left. Nwankwo tied the game again at 48-48 off a layup with 15 seconds remaining.
 
At 7:22 in the final quarter, the Mustangs took a 50-48 lead, but the Maroons managed a tie seconds later. Nwankwo and Dixon kept the Mustangs in the lead in the following minutes before the Maroons tied again at 59-59 with 51 seconds left in the game. Dixon added a layup 21 seconds later as the Maroons trailed off a free throw series. Nwankwo secured the two-point win with five seconds remaining, giving the Mustangs the 63-61 victory.
 
Harris and Nwankwo netted 14 points each, while Dixon added 13. Harris also went two-for-three on three pointers. Lawrence added six rebounds and went two-for-three on field goals. Boswell had seven defensive rebounds on the evening.
 
The Mustangs will advance to the championship game of the tournament tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Cregger Center at Roanoke, playing the winner of the Greensboro and Piedmont game tonight.