Guilford College Women’s Basketball Falls to Ferrum in Nail-Biting Battle
Quakers face a narrow defeat against Panthers in a tightly contested fourth-quarter finish
from Reagan Hune, Guilford College Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Continuing Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play, Guilford College women’s basketball team fell to Ferrum College, 60-57 on Jack Jensen Court in the Ragan-Brown Field House on Wednesday night.
The Quakers’ nine-game winning streak over Ferrum came to an end, marking the Panthers’ first victory against
marking the Panthers’ first victory against Guilford since November 25, 2006. This also represents Guilford’s first loss since February 23, 2024, when they were defeated by Bridgewater College. Guilford now stands at 6-1 (1-1 ODAC) whereas Ferrum walks away 4-1 (2-0 ODAC).
Top contributors for the Quakers included Zoe Bayer (Les Sables d’Olonne, France) with 15 points, going 5-14 from the field, and 4-4 from the free throw line, Briahna Scott (Graham, N.C.) who scored ten, snatched eight boards, and had solid shot selection as she was 4-7 from the floor, and Julianna Walter (Taylorsville, N.C.) who had nine points, with four assists, on three rebounds.
Standouts for the Ferrum squad were Allyson Cassell, who scored 16 alongside seven rebounds and a denial, Taryn Blankenship with 11 points, seven boards, and two dishes, and Asya Williams with nine points paired with six rebounds.
In the first quarter, Guilford took an early lead over Ferrum as Walter scored early with a fastbreak layup and contributed an assist, and Taylor Dunn (Charlotte, N.C.), who made her first appearance since November 16 against Brevard due to an ankle injury, scored crucial points late in the quarter, including free throws to extend the lead. Courtney McMillan (Lexington, N.C.) also played a pivotal defensive role with multiple steals and rebounds. Scott, Bayer, and Skyler Furr (Warrenton, N.C.) spent time in the paint as they generated some easy two-point conversions throughout the quarter as well. Ferrum’s efforts were led by Williams, who scored a key layup and assisted on a three-pointer by Erin Harden. Blankenship added points from free throws late in the quarter, but Ferrum struggled to handle the Quaker’s relentless pressure and got into foul trouble. Guilford’s fastbreak opportunities, defensive pressure, and exposing Ferrum’s errors helped build an early advantage, 17-8.
The tides shifted in the second quarter as Ferrum narrowed Guilford’s lead in a highly competitive period with contributions from Williams along with Blankenship and Dezhenae Stewart with layups. The Quakers and the Panthers were in a game of cat and mouse as neither team scored for 3:25 due to turnovers, steals, and missed jumpers. The first Quaker to end the drought was none other than Bayer with a three-pointer. Markayla Massenburg (Raleigh, N.C.) and Furr helped advance GC prior to Aisha Martin scoring the next five points for FC to tie it at 24. Cassell added a couple of free throws to keep Ferrum in the game, but Guilford’s balanced scoring and defensive plays helped maintain their slim lead to make it 27-25.
Quarter three was where Ferrum overtook Guilford thanks to Harden delivering back-to-back layups, anticipating steals, and grabbing timely boards to claim the lead 31-29. McMillan and Bayer kept GC competitive, with McMillan hitting a three-pointer and Bayer converting multiple free throws. Cassell was present for the Panthers late to widen the gap. Kieiauna Riddick and Martin hit important three-pointers to shift momentum in Ferrum’s favor, ending the third with a lead of 43-38.
In the final ten, it was an intense battle with the Quakers and Panthers trading baskets thanks to Bayer, Walter, Blankenship, and Williams. Scott rose to the occasion and counted the and-one at the 6:17 mark to make it 49-48 and continued to keep the Quakers competitive alongside Bayer and Walter’s efforts. Walter tied the game with a fastbreak layup at the 55-second mark, but Guilford couldn’t maintain the momentum. Cassell took initiative for Ferrum, contributing layups and was clutch at the charity stripe in the final stretch. The Panthers’ execution led to the and-one from Blankenship and the clock struck midnight for the Quakers out of the timeout to give them their first loss of the season with a final score of 60-57.
Guilford travels to Virginia Beach to play the Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday, December 7 at 2 p.m. to continue ODAC play.
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