Photo by Jacques Morin
DURHAM–It was different for Orange women’s basketball in its season-opener.
Facing Riverside, the Lady Panthers started the season without a George sister on the roster for the first time since 2018. Samantha George played regularly for four years, beginning with her freshman season in the 2018-19 season, helping Orange go 19-7. She’s now a student at Duke University.
Her younger sister, Evelyn, is now playing at Guilford College after scoring over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in Hillsborough. She also played four seasons and made her college debut for Division III Guilford against Vorhees on November 12. Evelyn has received steady minutes for the Quakers in each game ever since.
Orange Coach Joshua Underwood, starting his second season, had some new parts to break in as the new year started on Friday night. But it was a veteran post presence who was the most consistent contributor as the Lady Panthers won its season opener for the fourth straight year.
Alexis Stephens, who recently committed to play women’s soccer at Shaw University, scored eleven points to help Orange beat Riverside 42-29 at Walker Tolarchyk Gymnasium on Friday night.
“Lexi is a different post player than what we’ve had in years past,” Underwood said. “She’s quicker, she moves down the floor a lot quicker from goal-to-goal for layups. She’s a great rebounder. We’re hopeful she can give us 6-to-10 points each night and be a constant plug for our offense.”
Orange junior Lily Wilson also scored eleven points, including two 3-pointers.
As it prepares for life in the new Big 7 Conference, where Seaforth is penciled in as the top contender after reaching the 2A Eastern Regional championship last year, Orange has added a new element in Kassidy Tolliver. Last year, Tolliver led the crosstown Cedar Ridge Red Wolves with 6.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a freshman.
“Our front line is vastly different from year’s past,” Underwood said. “We’ve got a lot of young talent we’re trying to hold with our senior class coming back. It’s definitely a more defensive oriented makeup right now. With Kassidy in there, it makes us more athletic and quicker. She’s off to a good start.”
Beck Arrendondo led Riverside (0-3) with ten points.
Pirate guard Nijla Epps scored the opening two points, which was the only time that the Lady Panthers trailed.
Wilson and Natalię Roberson each sank 3-pointers for Orange in the opening quarter to start a 7-0 run. Au’Nehstii Hagans of Riverside ended the run with a running one-hander, but Orange responded with freshman Mia Albright scoring two free throws. Stephens’ opening field goal sent Orange ahead 9-4 going into the second quarter.
Only four Riverside players scored. Wilson drained another 3-pointer in the second quarter. Arrendondo scored three field goals in the frame to keep the Pirates in contention as Orange led 22-14 at halftime.
Tolliver got more involved in the second half, scoring six points in the third quarter. She finished with ten points, joining Stephens and Wilson in double-figures.
Meanwhile, Orange’s defense put the clamps on Riverside. The Pirates were held to two field goals in the third quarter. Hagans drained Riverside’s only three-pointer of the game, but Orange built a 34-19 lead. Orange junior Amelia O’Neal scored her first points at the varsity level in the fourth quarter as the Lady Panthers rode out the rest of the game.
It was the start of the senior season for Orange senior point guard Maura McMurtry, who has played at the varsity level since her freshman year. Last month, McMurtry officially committed to Carleton College, a Division III school out of Northfield, Minnesota. In 2024-2025, McMurtry averaged a career-best 8.4 points per game as the Lady Panthers reached the second round of the 3A State Playoffs. It was the first time since the 2016-17 season that Orange won a postseason game.
Orange will play its home opener against Person on December 3.
