MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Lynn University women's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with a victory on Friday afternoon, defeating Shorter, 78-60. The Fighting Knights were led by a pair of 15-point scorers in Danielle Montelbano and Ella Fiore in the Gulf South/Sunshine State Crossover victory.

 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Score: Lynn 78, Shorter 60
Records: Lynn (1-0) | Shorter (0-1)
Location: Health & Sports Center | Miami Shores, Fla.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Marianna Klavina scored Lynn's first basket of the 2023-24 season on a three-point shot, giving Lynn a 3-0 lead
- Carly Stroemel (4) and Fiore (5) combined for 9 of the next 11 points for Lynn, extending its lead to 14-8
- The Fighting Knights' advantage was pushed to 20-12 after three consecutive layups from Taylor Boruff, Bella Sparaco and Montelbano
- Trinity Mocadlo contributed a free throw and Sparaco made a layup, helping Lynn end the first quarter up 23-17
- Shorter fought back to tie the game, 28-28, early in the second quarter
- The Fighting Knights regained the momentum, going on an 11-2 run with points from Mocadlo (5), Fiore (2), Montelbano (2) and Sparaco (2)
- Shorter made it a four-point game with just under two minutes remaining in the half, but a three-pointer from Rachel Romich gave Lynn a 42-35 lead at the break
- Lynn started the second half off strong, going on a 7-1 run that was led by three free throws from Montelbano
- Shorter went on a 5-0 run to lower its deficit to 43-51
- Fiore caught fire and went on her own 5-0 run, pushing the advantage back to 11 points
- Makayla Hemingway hit a three-pointer and a turnaround jumper to help Lynn go into the final quarter leading 61-50
- Lynn opened the fourth quarter with a dominant 13-4 run, with Montelbano (4), Fiore (3), Mocadlo (3), Stroemel (2) and Sparaco (1) all contributing to the run
- Shorter went on a 6-0 run to lower its deficit to 14, but a pair of free throws from Montelbano and a layup from Romich helped Lynn secure a 78-60 victory over Shorter
 
FIGHTING KNIGHTS STATS
- Lynn made its first five shots and shot 63.5% from the field (10/16) in the first quarter
- Fiore blocked 2 shots in the second quarter
- The Fighting Knights scored a game-high 11 bench points in the third quarter
- Montelbano scored 6 points in the final quarter
- The Fighting Knights recorded a game-high 4 steals in the fourth quarter
- Six Fighting Knights scored 8 or more points in the victory (Fiore, Montelbano, Mocadlo, Romich, Hemingway and Stroemel)
- Mocadlo finished with a game-high 5 assists
- Lynn has now won four consecutive season openers
 
UP NEXT
Lynn will conclude the GSC/SSC Crossover when it takes on Christian Brothers on Saturday, Nov. 11 at noon in Miami Shores, Fla.