The Seton Hill women's basketball team began their season by hosting the Atlantic Regional Conference Challenge in the McKenna Center on Saturday.  The Griffins met Virginia State in the second game of the evening.  

Seton Hill outscored the Trojans 59-45 over the final three quarters as they were able to open the season with a 71-57 win.  

Both teams got off to slow starts as they each scored just twelve points in the first quarter.  Each team was able to hold a three point lead in the quarter but Abby Mankins free throw with 48 seconds left in the quarter tied the score at 12.  

The Griffins scored the first five points of the second quarter on baskets from Sakaria Haralson and Christiane Frye and a free throw from Hallie Cowan.  Down by a point in the final two minutes, the Griffins scored seven of the final eight points of the quarter to take a 29-24 lead into the halftime break.  

SHU came out fast in the third quarter with a basket by Haralson, one from Courtney Tomas and a three from Frye put the Griffins in front 36-24 just over a minute into the half, forcing the Trojans to take a timeout.  Late in the quarter, VSU was able to cut the lead to 45-41 but five points from Frye and two from Helene Cowan gave SHU a 52-43 lead heading into the fourth quarter.  

The Griffins were able to extend their lead over the first five minutes of the second half and when Maddy Moore drained a three with five minutes to play, SHU led 66-49.  A three pointer from Hallie Cowan gave SHU its largest lead of the game at twenty, 71-51 with 3:34 to play.  

Tomas and Frye each scored 16 points each to lead the Griffins.  Helene Cowan also reached double figures with 12 points.  Haralson just missed double figures with nine and Alie Seto finished with seven points and 11 rebounds.  

Seton Hill will take on Wheeling on Sunday at three in the final game of the Conference Challenge.