WINGATE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team was defeated by Wingate University in the Queens City Classic being held at Cuddy Arena in Wingate, N.C. This was the Royals first regular season game with new head coach Trudi Lacey leading the group. With the loss, Queens opens the season at 0-1 while Wingate opens at 1-0.
In the first half, Wingate shot 55.6 percent from the floor (15-of-27) as the Bulldogs posted a 44-34 lead at intermission. The opening frame featured seven ties and eight lead changes. The Royals stuck with Wingate through the first half of the game. Queens had six turnovers and four fouls in the last four minutes that the Bulldogs turned in to a 10-2 run to end the half.
In the second half of play, the Royals chipped away at the deficit created. The Bulldogs led 48-38 after a short jumper by junior Bulldog center Stacie Rhodes (Raleigh, N.C.) at the 16:22 mark. Queens answered with an 8-0 run to cut the Bulldog lead to 48-46. A lay-up by junior forward/guard Jacquia Winstead (Elm City, N.C., Beddingfield) completed the run with 12:41 remaining on the clock. The comeback forced a timeout to be called by the Bulldogs as the Royals had them on their heels. Wingate did not waste any time responding, as the Bulldogs notched 11 unanswered points to take a 59-46 lead on a Rhodes jumper with 9:13 left in the contest. Queens was unable to cut the deficit below nine points the rest of the way.
Both teams cooled off in the second half, as Wingate hit only 34.5 percent from the floor (10-of-29) after intermission. Queens converted 31.3 percent of its second half field goal attempts (10-of-32). On the evening, the Bulldogs shot 44.6 percent from the floor (44.6 percent), while the Royals made 36.4 percent of their field goal tries (24-of-66). Queens out rebounded Wingate 47-36, thanks to 12 boards from Winstead and nine caroms by Hicks.
The difference in the game was at the free throw line. Wingate connected on 28 of 38 free throws this afternoon which gave them the leverage to win. The Royals aggressive play allowed the Bulldogs to live at the free throw line.
Winstead stacked the stat sheet flirting with a triple-double with nine points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and one block. Markeisha Hicks (Rock Hill, S.C., Rock Hill)finished with 11 points and nine rebounds while Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) had 11 points and seven rebounds. Erin Goldner (Matthews, N.C., Piedmont)and Cecilia Tchangoue (St. Jean Le Blanc, France, Forsyth Country Day)contributed with 11 and ten points respectively.
For Wingate, senior All-American point guard Anna Atkinson (Marion, N.C.) led the way with 14 points. Freshman guard/forward Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) had 13 points off the bench, while sophomore forward Stefani Shuey (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 11 markers.
The Royals will continue action tomorrow on the final day of the Queens City Classic. They will face Johnson C. Smith University at Wingate University at 2:00pm. Johnson C. Smith University lost to Belmont Abbey 57-49 earlier in the afternoon.
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