GRANVILLE, Ohio --- The Shenandoah University women's basketball team's season came to a close on Friday with a 90-45 loss to No. 21 Trine University in the Denison Pod of the first round of the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Tournament.

The Thunder's (23-5) defense held the Hornets (20-8) to single digits in the first and third quarter, while shooting over 55 percent at the other end of the floor to help them advance to the second round. 

RECAP

Shenandoah's defense started strong, forcing three turnovers on the first three possessions of the game for the Thunder. The SU defense led to Jessica Littlejohn scoring first, giving SU a 2-0 lead, its only of the game. Trine took the lead, 7-4, with Brynna Nesselrodt making it a one-point game with a layup. The Thunder ended the first on an 8-2 run.

Shenandoah was held without a field goal for the first five minutes of the second, which allowed the Thunder to take a 32-9 lead. Three-pointers by Nesselrodt, Addisyn Banks, and Skai Bayless cut Trine's lead to 20 at halftime.

The Thunder began the third quarter with 11 straight points, giving them a 31-point lead, prior to Bayless hitting another three-pointer to put SU on the board in the third. Following a jumper by Nesselrodt with 2:59 to play in the quarter, Trine went on a 10-0 run for a 70-30 lead entering the fourth.

Emily Williams, who had zero points entering the final frame, scored seven of SU's 15 fourth quarter points. The senior ends her career with 982 career points. Williams also concludes her career with the most starts in program history at 113, after starting every game of her career. Fellow senior Kiersten Hostetter scored the final point of the season for Shenandoah.

The trip to the tournament marked the fifth appearance for Shenandoah in its program history and second in three years. Shenandoah has won 77 games in the last four seasons, including two seasons with at least 20 wins.

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This concludes the Hornets' season. SU awaits any further postseason awards.