WESTMINSTER, Md. – Stevenson women's basketball opened the 2023-24 campaign at McDaniel College in the Rebecca Martin Memorial Tip-Off Tournament with a loss to the Chatham University Cougars, 73-56, Friday evening in Gill Center.
 
The Mustangs got on the board within the first five seconds with a layup from sophomore guard Erin Dixon. The teams remained in a close matchup for much of the quarter, as Stevenson tied the Cougars with 8:27 remaining following a successful free throw series from junior guard Jaidyn Harris. However, the Cougars followed with 20 more points, and though the Mustangs added eight more points with sophomore forward Tessa Boswell making her first of two three-pointers on the evening, the first quarter ended 24-12 in Chatham's favor.
 
The Cougars brought action into the second quarter, surpassing 30 total points within three minutes. SU first-year center Amanda Nwankwo made three successful field goals in the next minute, giving the Mustangs 19 points. Junior guard Emori Jeselskis (wearing #25 in this initial game) brought the Mustangs to 21 seconds later. Boswell made a layup with 3:43 remaining and her second three-pointer at 3:16. With the Cougars gaining two more scoring chances, the Mustangs pushed to 30 points with plays from Jeselskis at 2:45 and Nwankwo with just over a minute remaining. Halftime score was 38-30.
 
After the break, the Mustangs scored early within the first 50 seconds with two more from Boswell.  After two successful free throw opportunities, the Mustangs scored once more with 0:23 remaining on a shot from junior forward Stephenae Lawrence. Jeselskis brought the Mustangs to 40 with three good free throws to end the quarter.
 
The Cougars hit 60 points early in the final quarter. The Mustangs managed 13 more points to bring the final score to 73-56. Elia Richardson also saw some of her first career points, adding two successful three-pointers and a layup, for a total of eight points.
 
Three Mustangs scored 10 or more points, with Boswell scoring 12 and Jeselskis and Richardson with 10 each. Nwankwo added seven total rebounds and Boswell had six. Both Boswell and Richardson made two three-pointers, with Boswell going 2/7 and Richardson going 2/3.
 
With the loss, the Mustangs progress to the consolation game in the tournament, playing the Eastern Mennonite University Royals tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. in Gill Center