Seton Hill closed out play in the season opening PSAC/CIAA Challenge at Slippery Rock University on Saturday with a matchup against defending CIAA Champion Virginia State.  The Griffins led 51-37 at the end of the third quarter but had to hang on for the 59-56 victory.  SHU improves to 1-1 on the season while the Trojans fall to 0-2 on the season.

Virginia State scored the first four points of the game before Mariah Wells hit a three pointer to trim the lead to 4-3.  After a VSU bucket, Jenna Kaufman hit a three to tie the score at 6.  Alexandra Hay continued the three point barrage with a three that gave SHU an 11-8 lead midway through the first quarter.  Halie Torris hit the Griffins fourth three of the quarter as SHU held a 16-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

Back to back jumpers from Jharrin Gill and Kinross Obiefule extended the Griffins lead to 20-15 early in the second quarter.  Two free throws from Alexandria Deep pushed the SHU lead to 23-17 with 4:39 left in the half.  Hannah Laslo and Jessica Slagus hit back to back layups to give the Griffins their largest lead of the half at 29-21 with 2:12 to play.  SHU took a 29-23 lead into the halftime break. 

The Griffins scored the first six points of the second half to build their lead to 35-21.  Kaufman's three point play at the 5:30 mark of the quarter kept the Griffins lead at 14, 41-27.  Obiefule scored the final four points of the quarter and SHU led 51-37 after three quarters of play. 

Hay hit a jumper early in the fourth quarter and after she went 1-2 from the line, the Griffins held their largest lead of the game at 54-37 with 6:35 to play in the fourth quarter.  VSU scored six straight points before Chrisanna Green's jumper ended the run and increased the SHU lead to 56-43 with 4:20 to play.  VSU then went on a 11-0 run to cut the lead to 56-54 with 56 seconds left.  Kaufman hit one of two free throws to push the lead to 57-54 with 45 seconds to play.  The Trojans answered with a layup five seconds later and trailed 57-56 with 40 seconds to play.  Wells hit one of two free throws to push the lead back to two at 58-56.  VSU had a chance to tie the game but Wells blocked a layup attempt with 5 seconds to play to preserve the win.

Kinross Obiefule led the Griffins with 11 points.  Jenna Kaufman added 9 points.  Hannah Laslo finished with 8 rebounds and 8 assists. 

Seton Hill will host Salem International on Wednesday at 5:30 PM for their home opener.