The Orange women’s basketball team opened the season with a 42-29 win over Riverside at Walker Tolarchyk Gymnasium on November 21 in Durham. The Lady Panthers received a balanced effort. Senior center Alexis Stephens finished with eleven points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Lily Wilson also registered eleven points, sinking two 3-pointers. Senior guard Natalie Roberson keyed a strong defensive effort for the Lady Panthers, finishing with three steals. Point guard Maura McMurtry, starting her fourth year at the varsity level, came away with three steals and three assists. In October, McMurtry committed to play at Carleton College, a Division III school out of Northfield, Minnesota. McMurtry is a returning All-Conference player who helped the Lady Panthers win a state playoff game for the first time since 2017 last winter. Roberson also totalled six points and six rebounds against the Pirates. Her top sport in softball, where she helped Orange defeat Triton in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs last year. After finishing second behind Western Alamance last year in the Central Conference, Orange has plenty of experience back for this season, along with the addition of Cedar Ridge transfer Kassidy Tolliver. The Lady Panthers will play its home opener against Person on Wednesday night in Hillsborough starting at 6.
