CHARLOTTE, N.C.- What looked like it was going to be a one-sided contest turned into a competitive and scrappy game Saturday night at the Ovens Athletics Center. Queens University of Charlotte came away with the 63-58 Conference Carolinas win over Limestone College.
Cecilia Tchangoue (St. Jean Le Blanc, France, Forsyth Country Day) scored 12 points in the second half, the team high, to help the Royals (5-5 overall/5-1 CC) fight from a seven point deficit at the start of the stanza. Queens led for most of the first half, even holding an eight point lead at the 13:24 mark. With 2:50 left in the first 20, the teams were tied at 23 all and from there the Saints (6-5 overall/4-2 CC) were able to go up five before the buzzer.
Blanca Gonzalez hit a three-point bucket at the start of the second half to give Limestone the seven point lead. From there Queens brought it within two. For the next five minutes the teams traded baskets and turnovers until Queens' Shakaria Hamlin (Harstville, S.C., Hartsville) scored a bucket to give Queens a one point lead, 39-38, with 13:51 left on the clock. The Royals would not trail again.
Queens committed just two turnovers after taking the lead, was able to get one steal and forced four turnovers from Limestone. This strong play and the ability to make free throws down the stretch kept the advantage on the home side of the scoreboard at the final buzzer.
“Tonight was a great team effort,” said head coach Trudi Lacey. “It is rewarding to get such a tremendous conference win.”
In addition to Tchanoue's 12 points, Hamlin scored 11 with seven rebounds and Ashley McGuirt (Indian Trail, N.C., Providence Day) had 10 points. Jacquia Winstead (Elm City, N.C., Beddingfield) was strong around the board grabbing nine rebounds.
Gonzalez scored the game-high 15 and Addie Graves was the only other Saint in double figures with 11. Graves led the team in rebounds with seven.
Queens will travel to Anderson, S.C., to play Anderson University on Wednesday, January 14 at 5:30pm. Limestone hosts Erskine College on January 14 at 5:30pm.
