from AB Sports Information reports

PHILIPPI, W.Va. – Sydney Shaffer recorded a career-high 25 points to lead Alderson Broaddus to a 76-71 victory against Davis & Elkins in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference home opener Saturday afternoon in Rex Pyles Arena.

Shaffer shot 10-of-18 from the floor including 5-of-10 from behind the arc in the game. Rachel Ashley just missed a double-double with 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals while Lorin Clark finished with six points, eight assists, and six rebounds.

In the first quarter, AB (3-9 overall, 1-0 G-MAC) forced thee turnovers in the first 1:30 of the game leading to seven quick points. The Battlers forced 21 turnovers in the game which led to 29 points. AB extended its lead to 21-9, before the Senators scored the final four points of the quarter to cut the lead to 21-13 after one.

In the second, the Senators chipped their way back into the game and cut the Battlers lead just one, 35-34 at the half.

In the opening 20 minutes, AB shot just 1-of-16 from behind the arc, but regain their form in the third quarter and finished 7-of-13 from three-point land in the second half. Terra McKenzie opened the half with a three and then Shaffer extended the lead to five with one of her game-high five three-pointers. However, Davis & Elkins once again fought back and captured their first lead of the afternoon 47-46, with 2:28 remaining in the third. The Battlers quickly reclaimed the lead with an 8-0 run over the next 1:31 to push their advantage to 55-47 and carried a 57-49 to close out the third.

AB extended its lead to as many as 12 in the fourth quarter.  The Senators made a late rush trimming the AB lead to single digits at 73-65 with 2:28 left, but the Battlers sank 3-of-4 from the charity stripe down the stretch and closed out the victory 76-71.

Jordan Parker finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and two steals for the Battlers while Yasmin Norman added eight points and Kaitlyn Rohlfing added six points and five boards.

Stephanie Wooten, the conference's leading scorer, finished with 14 points, four assists, and three rebounds on the day for the Senators (4-7, 0-1). Wooten struggled from downtown shooting just 1-for-10 and turned the ball over eight times. She came into today's contest averaging just shy of 23 points per game. Tajee Pledger led Davis & Elkins with 18 points while Kali Wilburn added 15 points and seven rebounds.

D&E outshot AB from the field 45.0% to 40.3%, but the difference was ball control as the Senators recorded 21 turnovers to just 13 for AB.

D&E hosts Salem International Tuesday January 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the McDonnell Center.