CHARLOTTE, N.C.- For the second consecutive contest junior Shakaria Hamlin (Hartsville, S.C., Hartsville) scored 22 points in the Queens University of Charlotte (3-6/2-2 CC) Conference Carolinas contest. In Thursday's outing the Royals defeated Barton College (4-5/3-1 CC) 74-72 in an evenly matched contest at the Ovens Athletics Center.
The first half featured each team shooting at, or just around, 40% from the floor and both hitting 71.4% from the free throw line. The lead bounced between the two teams with Barton finally holding a six point advantage midway through. With two left in the half, Queens battled and with the help of an 8-0 run took the lead by three with 27 ticks left. The Royals finished on top in the first half 36-33.
Queens carried the momentum into the second half, but would lose the lead on back-to-back field goals made my Esty Flores. The Bulldogs would keep the lead, but never more than five points.
Hamlin tied the game at 62-62 and gained Queens the lead with two free throws. On the night she was 6-8. Flores would tie the game just minutes later with a hit freebie, but missed taking the lead when she didn't sink the second shot.
The final three field goals came from Hamlin and Ashley McGuirt (Indian Trail, N.C., Providence Day). Two free throws by McGuirt in the final seconds made the contest a two-possession game and made the final Barton basket unimportant. At the end of the night McGuirt contributed 10 points.
The Queens defense limited the Barton shooter so jut 29.7% from the floor and the Royals offense improved in the second connecting for 46.4%.
Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) turned in another strong performance with 12 points and four rebounds. Hamlin and Flores each scored 22, but Hamlin lead all players with 12 total rebounds, good for her first double-double of the season.
Barton's Jamila Johnson scored 15 points while Jolanda Mitchell pulled down a team-high seven boards.
Both teams return to action on Saturday with Queens playing at Coker and Barton traveling to Lees-McRae.
