MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Montevallo women's basketball team opened the 2024 season with a 62-42 win over Talladega College in an exhibition contest on Tuesday. The Falcons played in front of a packed crowd as students from local schools filled Central State Bank Arena for Education Day.

Isabel Grimes led the way with 19 points, as the sophomore went an impressive 7-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-10 from three-point range. Aubrey Sorrells recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Jordan Gillies tallied a team-high nine assists on the day.

Aubrey Sorrells scored the first basket of the day at 9:24, giving the Falcons an early 2-0 lead. After the Tornados jumped ahead 4-3, Julia Susla scored the next five points to put the Falcons back in front 8-4 going into the first media timeout. Both teams would once again trade baskets late in the first quarter, but a three-point basket by Isabel Grimes with 40 seconds left ultimately gave the Falcons a 15-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Grimes continued to cash in from beyond the arc, opening the second quarter with a three-point basket at 8:52 to put Montevallo ahead 18-9. Sorrells would score a layup and hit a free-throw, but a pair of Talladega three-point baskets cut the UM lead to 21-15 with 6:14 left in the quarter. Grimes responded with another three-point basket, but a Talladega and-one made the score 24-18 at the media timeout. Montevallo closed the half strong, with an 8-1 run to put the Falcons ahead 32-19 at the break.

Talladega opened the second half with a 6-0 run, cutting the UM lead down to 32-27. Olivia Johnigan scored the first Falcon point of the half, courtesy of a free-throw at 6:48, as Montevallo held a 33-27 advantage at the media timeout. After an Anna Katherine Eastman jumper extended the lead to 35-27 at 4:34, the Tornados went on a 5-0 run, to make it a one possession game at 2:42. Montevallo scored the final five points of the quarter to push the lead back to double digits, 42-32, at the end of the third quarter.

Lia Edwards opened the scoring with a layup in the fourth quarter to give the Falcons a 44-32 lead. After a 6-2 Tornado run, Edwards  connected on back-to-back baskets, extending the UM lead to 48-38 at 5:32. Grimes followed that up with her fifth three-pointer of the day to push the lead out to 51-38. Talladega responded with a three-pointer of its own at 3:55, but the Falcon defense would hold strong through the final four minutes, closing the game on an 11-1 run to secure the 62-42 victory.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 62 | Talladega 42
Location: Central State Bank Arena | Montevallo, Ala.

Montevallo will open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 8 against Nova Southeastern in Montgomery, Ala.