MONTREAT, N.C. (Nov. 2, 2026) –
Aareonna Caughman scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but the Voorhees University women's basketball team fell to Montreat College, 78–58, Monday evening in its 2026–27 season opener.
Despite the setback, the Lady Tigers (0–1) showed promise on the glass, outrebounding the Cavaliers 52–35, while collecting 18 offensive rebounds and scoring 34 points in the paint.
Caughman led the offensive effort off the bench, connecting on 9-of-24 shots from the field while adding two steals and a blocked shot.
Kaelin Davis contributed nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, while
Kierra Diggs finished with eight points and six rebounds.
The Lady Tigers came out strong in the opening quarter, shooting 54.5 percent from the field and exchanging leads with the Cavaliers throughout the period. Voorhees held a 14–12 advantage late in the quarter before Montreat connected on a three-pointer to take a narrow 15–14 lead into the second.
Voorhees continued to battle early in the second quarter, using a three-pointer from
Kimmya Epps and a jumper from Caughman to build its largest lead of the contest, 23–19, with seven minutes remaining before halftime.
However, Montreat responded with a decisive run fueled by its perimeter shooting. The Cavaliers connected on four three-pointers during the second quarter and outscored the Lady Tigers 21–11 to take a 36–25 advantage into the locker room.
Coming out of halftime, Montreat extended its lead to 42–25 before Voorhees responded with an 8–0 run, cutting the deficit to nine points at 42–33 midway through the third quarter. Caughman provided a spark during the period, scoring eight points as the Lady Tigers continued to battle.
The Cavaliers answered with timely three-point shooting to maintain their advantage, taking a 55–41 lead into the final quarter.
Voorhees continued to compete in the fourth quarter, scoring a game-high 17 points in the period while shooting 40 percent from the field. However, Montreat maintained control down the stretch to secure the 78–58 victory.
In addition to Caughman's performance, Epps finished with seven points, three rebounds and three assists, while Katie Moore contributed six points and seven rebounds.
Tierra Griffin provided a strong presence on the boards with eight rebounds.
The Lady Tigers finished the contest shooting 35.3 percent (24-of-68) from the field and 70 percent (7-of-10) from the free-throw line. Voorhees also recorded 12 steals, four blocked shots and 16 second-chance points.
Montreat (2–2) was led by Mariia Fedoseeva and Katie Alexander, who each scored 15 points, while Sarah Williams added 13 points and seven assists. The Cavaliers connected on 14 three-pointers and converted 33 Voorhees turnovers into 30 points.
While the result was not what the Lady Tigers hoped for, the season opener provided valuable experience for head coach Edward Glover's squad as it looks to build consistency and momentum throughout the 2026–27 campaign.
By the Numbers
- 19: Points scored by Aareonna Caughman to lead Voorhees.
- 52: Total rebounds collected by the Lady Tigers, compared to 35 for Montreat.
- 18: Offensive rebounds for Voorhees.
- 34: Points scored in the paint.
- 12: Steals recorded by the Lady Tigers.
- 16: Second-chance points generated by Voorhees.
Up Next
The Lady Tigers will look to regroup and build on the positives from their season opener as they return to action on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 against Spartanburg Methodist College at 6 p.m.
