FROM STAFF REPORTS

WINGATE, N.C. – The University of Montevallo women’s basketball team dropped its season opener Nov. 10 on the road at Wingate University, 69-58.

Junior Alexsis Brown led the Falcons (0-1) with 16 points in her first game in a Montevallo uniform. Brown finished 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Sophomore Taylor Beverly, the Falcons’ leading scorer a year ago, added 11 points. Senior Trena Moore-Smith chipped in eight points and a team-high four assists.

Senior Carolyn Taite contributed six points and five rebounds. Fellow senior Zena Nasiloski, who scored five points, led the Falcons with seven boards in the season opener.

The Falcons shot 54 percent from 3-point range in the season opener, but finished the game shooting just 34 percent from the floor. Montevallo was outrebounded 43-39 against Wingate.

Wingate jumped out to a double-digit lead in the opening half before the Falcons cut into the deficit early in the second half. Montevallo cut the deficit to just 34-30 with 16:42 remaining in the game following a 3-pointer by Moore-Smith.

The Falcons trimmed the deficit to three points on two separate occasions midway through the second half, the last time on a 3-pointer by Brown with 12:24 remaining, and kept the margin within a two-possession game before a basket by Wingate with 2:41 remaining gave the home team a little breathing room down the stretch.

Montevallo completes its season-opening road trip Nov. 10 with a neutral-site game against non-conference opponent Newberry College on the campus of Wingate University. The Falcons host UAH in their home opener Nov. 14 at BankTrust Arena.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.