The Berkeley College women's basketball team opened up its 2023-2024 season this past weekend. On Friday evening, the Knights traveled to Virginia Beach, VA to take on Regent University, falling to the Royals in a tight game by a score of 69-65. The following day, Berkeley bounced back in a big way, winning at Virginia Peninsula Community College by a score of 72-57. With that output, the Knights are 1-1 to start the new campaign.
Leading the way for Berkeley in the contest was standout Keisy Villanueva, as she connected on five shots from long range to finish with a game-high 27 points. She also drained 10 of her 11 shots from the charity stripe and snatched a game-high 16 rebounds, as well. Khya Hough also put forth a tremendous effort, scoring 24 points (10-11 FT) while collecting four boards.
Pacing Regent University in its victory was Kali Murrell, as she drilled four trifectas, and six of her 10 attempts overall to finalize her evening with a team-best 19 points. She also grabbed four caroms while adding three assists. Kaila Murrell scored 15 points (4-5 FT), and Brooke Glisson finished with 11 points and a team-high seven boards.
Berkeley shot well from downtown (7-15, 46.7 percent) and from the free throw line (27-33, 81.8 percent), but the Knights hit on just 30 percent of their attempts for the game (15-50). On the flip side, the Royals drilled seven of their 17 attempts from downtown (41.2 percent) and 66.7 percent of their free throws (14-21). Regent finished the night 24-63 from the field overall (38.1 percent).
The Knights and Royals snatched 28 rebounds apiece, but Regent held a massive 14-3 edge in the steals department. Berkeley committed 18 turnovers on the evening while forcing 17 opposition miscues.
A day later, Berkeley rallied from a four point halftime deficit to outscore the Gators 37-18. Villanueva followed up her stellar performance against Regent with a double-double against Virginia Peninsula, pouring in 28 points (12-27 FG) while snatching 17 rebounds, swatting six shots, and adding three steals. Hough had a terrific all-around performance with 24 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, and Desiraye Sealy finalized her afternoon with 12 points and four boards.
The Knights will now have five days off before returning to action next weekend. Berkeley will travel to Maine to take on Central Maine C.C. on Friday evening (7pm), before turning around 17 hours later to take on Southern Maine C.C. on Saturday (12pm). Live stats will be available for both contests.
