CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Royals rebounded from a road loss to Anderson University earlier in the week with a big win over Pfeiffer University Saturday night. Queens flew over the Falcons 81-64 at the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, N.C.
The Royals (6-6/5-2 Conference Carolinas) and the Falcons (1-11/1-6 CC) traded the lead in the first five minutes until they had a 9-9 tie at the 14:59 mark. Erin Goldner (Matthews, N.C., Piedmont) sank a free throw to break the tie to put the Royals up. Goldner had a season best 23 points, the high scorer for the night, and 10 rebounds, also the best on the hardwood for the evening. It is her first double-double of the season.
Queens would slowly added more points to the margin and with the help of another Goldner free throw opened up the largest lead of the game, 27 points with 34 seconds left in the first half.
With two minutes remain in the game Pfeiffer was able to bring the Royals within nine points when Shelley Reese sank a three-pointer, 72-63.
Queens did not let the Flacons shave any more from the lead and finished the game with a 81-64 score.
Goldner's strong performance help the Royals shoot 50% from the floor in the first half and 42.6% overall. From the charity stripe the Royals were 26-35, 74.3%. Pfeiffer struggled from the floor shooting just 32.8% , but managed to do well at the free throw line, hitting 16 of 23 for 69.9%.
Allegra Shanee Purnell led the Falcons with 17 points and seven rebounds. Devona Knight totaled 11 points.
Shakaria Hamlin (Hartsville, S.C., Hartsville) scored her season-high 13 points in the win and pulled down nine rebounds. Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) recorded 14 points and had eight rebounds.
During the game, Coach Trudi Lacey coached barefoot to help raise awareness for Samaritan's Feet. At the gate, shoes and cash donations were collected and will be donated to Samaritan's Feet, an organization that is looking to collect 10 million shoes for 10 million kids in 10 years. The organization is a local group based near Charlotte. Please click here to learn more.
Queens will travel to Mount Olive College for a game at 5:30pm on Monday, January 19.
