MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Montevallo women's basketball team captured its first win of the 2025-26 campaign in dominant fashion, taking down Shorter, 67-47, on Saturday.

Montevallo shot a season-high 50-percent from the field and three Falcons reached double figures including Elyse Hughes (18), Julia Susla (17), and Alani Owens (ten).

Shorter got on the board first, but back-to-back baskets from Hughes and Susla would give Montevallo its first lead of the day, 4-2, at the 7:29 mark. The Hawks responded with a 6-0 run, before Susla cashed in on a lay-in at the 5:03 mark. Hughes added another lay-in, but the Hawks pulled ahead, 12-8, with 1:16 left in the opening quarter. The Falcons closed the quarter strong with a 6-0 run capped by a last second lay-in from Olivia Johnigan to put UM back in front, 14-12, at the end of one.

The Falcons opened the second quarter strong outscoring the Hawks 8-3, as another lay-in from Johnigan forced a Shorter timeout and put the Falcons ahead, 22-15, at the 7:33 mark. Johnigan added a jumper a few minutes later, but the Hawks would cut the deficit to one possession, 24-21, at the 5:05 mark. Both teams traded a pair of buckets, before an Emily Mouser jumper gave the Falcons a, 30-25, advantage at the break.

Shorter opened the second half with a free throw, before Susla knocked down a pair of buckets to extend the Montevallo lead to, 35-26, at the 6:33 mark. Hughes and Kylee Norman added baskets in the next few minutes, as the Falcons held a, 41-34, advantage with 2:58 left in the third quarter. Shorter connected on four free throws, but a pair of baskets from Owens and a Shalexia Little free throw gave the Falcons an eight-point advantage, 46-38, heading into the final quarter.

Shorter opened the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws, but a Montevallo 8-0 run highlighted by a pair of lay-ins from Hughes, would put the Falcons up by double digits, 54-40, at the 5:58 mark. The Hawks hit a pair of free throws before the Falcons went on another run, as Jerrilyn Richardson connected from long range and Susla and Hughes added back-to-back lay-ins to give the Falcons a commanding, 61-42, advantage with 3:10 left in the game. Owens and Susla scored the final Falcon points of the contest, as Montevallo secured the dominant, 67-47, win over Shorter.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Montevallo 67 | Shorter 47

Records: Montevallo 1-3 (0-0 GSC) | Shorter 2-3 (1-1 CC)

Location: Central State Bank Arena | Montevallo, Ala.

GAME NOTES

• The Falcons shot a season-high 50-percent from the field, going 29-of-58.
• Montevallo outrebounded Shorter 40-33.
• The Falcons recorded 12 assists, compared to the Hawks two.
• Three Falcons reached double figures in Elyse Hughes (18), Julia Susla (17), and Alani Owens (ten).

UP NEXT: Montevallo opens Gulf South Conference play this week with road trips against Lee (Dec. 4) and Trevecca (Dec. 6).