CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Queens University of Charlotte women’s basketball home-opener against N. Greenville University featured 16 lead changes and 12 ties, the most important one came with one second to play when the visitors made a basket to give them a one-point lead for the win, 74-73.
In the first half of play Queens held a 10 point lead midway through. In the last five minutes of the half the two teams tied or exchanged leads eight times. The Crusaders held a one point advantage , 38-37, at the horn. The Royals shot 53.1% from the floor and were one for three from behind the arc. N. Greenville 44.8% overall and was three of 10 in three point attempts. The difference came at the charity stripe. The Royals were sent to the line to attempt four free-throws, sinking two, while the Crusaders had 12 attempts and made nine.
The second half saw much of the same back and forth action. The largest lead either team held was six, by N. Greenville, but that was not held for more than two possessions. With 2:16 remaining, the Royals trailed by four but battled back to take a one point lead when Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) put away two free throws with 10 seconds on the clock.
The Crusaders carried the ball down court and after some action under the basket, Jacquetta Golden threw up a shot and it went it with just one tick left. Cecilia Tchangoue (St. Jean Le Blanc, France, Forsyth Country Day) attempted a long three-pointer for the win, but the attempt was short.
Scoring the game-high 27 points was Hudley for the Royals and Amanda Milner for the Crusaders.
The loss drops Queens to 0-3 and improves the Crusaders to 3-0. The Royals start Conference Carolinas play on Tuesday, Nov. 25, against Lees-McRae at 5:30pm.