CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Belmont Abbey offense proved to be too much for the Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team Saturday night in Belmont, N.C.  Queens battled from a 13 point deficit midway through the first half, but could never get the upper hand in the Conference Carolinas contest and fell 66-57.

The loss is the first for Queens (8-7/7-3) in 2010 and ends a seven-game win streak.

The Abbey (8-7/6-4) opened the game with a three pointer from Courtney Naquin and that would be the theme for the night. The Crusaders hit 8-15 from long range with Naquin and Ashley Giddens each connecting on four.

The Royals struggled from the floor in the opening minutes, making just three field goals in the first seven minutes. Queens couldn't catch a break, committing back to back turnovers that led to Abbey buckets and a 11 point run taking the lead at 21-8.

Queens stuck to it, caused three Abbey turnovers in the last three minutes and cut the lead down to six, 30-24, to end the half.

An 8-0 run by Queens to start the second half gave the Royals their first lead of the night, 32-30.

For the next 10 minutes the game went back and forth between the two teams with neither team taking a lead larger than three points.

The Crusaders would take what would be the final lead of the game off of a Giddens three with 5:36 to play. Queens was within two when Jessica Lewis (Hampton, Va., Bethel) sank two free throws, but the Abbey was 11-12 from the charity stripe in the last 2:34 and took the game by a final score of 66-57.

Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) led the all scorers with 19 points and contributed seven rebounds. Jazmine Edmonds (Manassas, Va., CD Hylton) had the game high 14 rebounds, 10 defensive and four offensive.

Giddens scored 18 for the Crusaders while Kelsey Daniel had the game's only double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Queens hosts Erskine College at 5:30pm on Monday, Jan. 25. Belmont Abbey plays hosts to Lees-McRae on Monday as well.