MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In the midst of cancellations and postponements due to COVID-19, the Faulkner Lady Eagles got exactly what they needed and wanted out of the first game of the 2020-2021 season – a convincing win and opportunities for freshmen to log valuable playing time. In the season opener for both squads, the home Eagles sent the visiting Pensacola Christian Eagles away from Tine Davis Gymnasium with a sound 97-76 defeat, a result that, while a close margin at times, was never truly in doubt.

"Well, we just, we talked about it before the game, we talked about it after the game. Let's just have fun, you know?" Coach Reed Sutton said. "We don't know if we're going to get a chance to do this again, we didn't know if we were going to get a chance to do this tonight, so let's just go have fun. And whatever happens, happens. And that's a great mindset to be in when you're going out on the gym. There's no pressure, you know? There's no, no worries. You just go out, have fun and play."

Senior Channing Gafford set the tone for the night when she made a 3-pointer 20 seconds into the game off an assist from freshman Jacie Andrews. After two threes for Pensacola Christian, Ryann Sylvester, in her first game action since Jan. 2, hit another long-range shot off an Olivia Colson assist to tie the score at 6-6. With another Gafford 3-pointer that made the score 9-7 in Faulkner's favor, the Lady Eagles took a lead that would last the remainder of the contest. Angela Grant, playing for the first time since suffering a season-ending injury on Jan. 18 against Stillman, made her presence felt immediately as she registered four rebounds, an assist, two blocks, and two buckets in the first half despite playing only nine and a half minutes. She would finish with 13 points and six rebounds. With a 48-41 lead at the half, it was mostly smooth sailing from there for the home team.

Gafford led her team with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and one of Faulkner's three steals. Andrews, starting in her first career game, chipped in 13 points and four boards. All of the Lady Eagles' freshmen saw game action, as those six players contributed 50 points, 23 rebounds and 10 assists. Two other notable individual performances were by first-year players Evaiah Burrows and Lauren Allen. The former scored 13 points, five boards, and five assists, while the latter got six rebounds and three blocks to go with four points. Faulkner was also aided by a 61.9 percent mark on field goals compared to 32.4 percent for the visitors.

"When you score like we were scoring, when you shoot it like we were shooting tonight, you know, you're always going to have fun playing," Sutton said about his team's performance. "But I really thought our defense improved in the second half, and our rebounding was really solid all night. But I just think, what was really impressive to me was we were making the extra pass. You know, we had 27 assists on 39 baskets, and when you have a team that doesn't really care whether it's you scoring or somebody else scoring, just as long as the team scores, you know, that's a beautiful thing. And that's what you try to do as a coach, try to build the perfect team."

Lauren Alvarez paced Pensacola Christian with 20 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Sandy McElhaney had 15 points, six boards, and two blocks. Jenna Wolford added 17 points and two assists to her team's total.

After having a Nov. 3 matchup against Rust College cancelled, Faulkner will now prepare to play its next game on Nov. 6 at home against Florida Memorial, as part of the Jimmy Faulkner Classic.