Salem, VA (02/21/02) - Senior guard Amy Evans (New Bern, NC/New Bern) scored eight of her team-high 10 points in the second half as top-seeded Guilford posted a 55-44 win over number-eight Hollins in the quarterfinals of the 20th annual Old Dominion Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament in the Salem Civic Center Thursday afternoon.

Guilford, the defending tournament champion, improved to 22-3, matching the school record for wins in a season set by last year’s 22-7 club. Hollins ends its season at 10-16 and falls to 0-26 against Guilford.

Junior Emily Ferrell’s (Roanoke, VA/Northside) three-point play with 7:28 remaining capped a 12-3 Hollins (10-16) run and pulled it to within 44-40. Ferrell scored five points during the spurt and tallied all nine of her markers in the final period. The Quakers’ defense did not allow a field goal after a Mandy Nichols’ (Roanoke, VA/Lord Botetourt) basket with 6:09 left.

Evans scored six straight points in the game’s last seven minutes and added a pair of steals in that time. Sophomore forward Jackie Hardenbergh (Oak Hill, VA/Paul VI) (left) knocked down a three-pointer from the corner with 3:22 remaining to give the Quakers a 53-44 advantage.

Guilford enjoyed a 54-31 rebounding edge and set season highs for rebounds and offensive boards (26). The Quakers countered Hollins’ 2-3 zone defense with a season-best seven three-point field goals, including five in the first half. Sophomore guard Nicole McCrory (Charlotte, NC/South Mecklenburg) scored all eight of her points in the first half, thanks to a pair of three-pointers. Four players scored seven points apiece for Guilford, including senior guard Erin Beacham (Atlanta, GA/Lovett School), who added a game-high 11 rebounds.

Nichols led all scorers with 16 points and six rebounds and rookie guard Brandi Cochran (Hillsville, VA/Carroll County) netted nine points for Hollins. Junior guard Lauren McKee (Vinton, VA/Roanoke Valley Christian) added six points, a team-best seven rebounds and three of Hollins’ 10 blocks.

Guilford advances to the ODAC semifinals for the ninth time in 11 tournament appearances where it will face Randolph-Macon tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. The fifth-seeded Yellow Jackets (13-13) reached the semifinals for the first time since 1998 with a 78-68 win over number-four Roanoke.