The McDaniel College women’s basketball team opened the 2026-27 season with an 80-49 victory over Wilson on Nov. 6, 2026, in the Rebecca Martin Memorial Tip-Off Tournament in Westminster, Md. McDaniel led 46-18 at halftime and improved to 1-0, while Wilson fell to 0-1.
McDaniel received 48 points from its bench and recorded 23 assists on 28 made field goals. The Green Terror also held a 57-31 rebounding advantage, including 23 offensive rebounds that produced 23 second-chance points.
McDaniel College Women’s Basketball Team Builds Halftime Lead
Twelve McDaniel players scored at least four points in the victory. The Green Terror used a 16-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to take a 34-11 lead with 6:26 remaining before halftime.
Sophomore Riley Waite made a jumper, and first-year Lucy Soden followed with a 3-pointer to extend the advantage to 39-14. Stigler added a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer as McDaniel took a 46-18 lead into the break.
Wilson scored the first five points of the third quarter and cut the deficit to 48-28 before McDaniel answered with a 10-0 run. Junior Kate Roberts made a 3-pointer with 1:54 remaining in the period, and McDaniel led 63-33 after three quarters.
Stigler hit another 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter, and Grace Hempsell followed her own miss with a layup as McDaniel extended its lead to 70-35 with 8:06 remaining.
Grace Hempsell Records 11 Points in Collegiate Debut
Hempsell totaled 11 points and seven rebounds in her collegiate debut. Senior Raegan Lenz finished with eight points, nine rebounds and four assists, while senior Teya McConnaha added nine points and nine rebounds, including six offensive rebounds.
Senior Jess Pronchick made six of eight free throws and grabbed four rebounds. McDaniel’s balanced scoring and advantage on the offensive glass helped the team maintain its lead throughout the 80-49 victory.
McDaniel Advances to Rebecca Martin Memorial Tip-Off Championship
McDaniel advanced to the Rebecca Martin Memorial Tip-Off Tournament championship game and will host Catholic Saturday at 4 p.m. Catholic defeated Union 93-52 in the other Friday game.
Wilson and Union will meet in the consolation game Saturday at 2 p.m. McDaniel is 6-1 in season openers under head coach Christin Gowan and has advanced to the tournament championship game in each of the event’s six seasons.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
McDaniel’s season-opening performance was defined by depth, ball movement and second-chance scoring. The team’s 48 bench points, 23 assists and 23 offensive rebounds provided the statistical foundation for its 31-point victory.
Hempsell’s 11-point, seven-rebound debut added to a balanced effort that also included multi-category contributions from Lenz and McConnaha. McDaniel will now face Catholic for the tournament championship.
Source: Original report
