TIGERVILLE, S.C.- With 4:57 on the clock, Jazmine Edmonds (Manassas, Va., CD Hylton) sunk two free throws helping the Royals regain the lead never looking back for the 60-51 win over future Conference Carolinas member North Greenville University. Queens University of Charlotte improves to 1-1 on the year while the Crusaders fall to 1-2.
This is the Royals' first win under the leadership of Head Coach Cheryl Nix.
“I'm really proud of this team for getting a tough win on the road,” said Nix. “They showed a lot of character during some difficult situations when North Greenville made a few runs.”
Edmonds led the Royals at the charity stripe tonight connecting on six-of-eight as the Royals improved their free throw percentage in just game two of the season shooting 85 percent after a 45 percent performance in their season opener against Johnson C. Smith University.
Melissa Thomas (Havelock, N.C., Havelock) scored six points in the last five minutes putting Queens in control of the game. Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) led the Royals with 18 points and 15 rebounds for her second double-double of the season in as many games. Erin Goldner (Matthews, N.C., Piedmont) and Edmonds contributed 12 points to the win.
The Crusaders jumped out to an early lead in the game leading by as much as six points. A steal and a lay-up by Jessica Lewis (Hampton, Va., Bethel) put the Royals even with the host at 10 with 10:53 on the clock. The second part of the half saw nine lead changes as each team traded baskets going in to halftime.
The Royals ended the first period leading by three, 29-26. Hudley had reached the double-double mark with 11 points and 10 rebounds at the break, while Crusaders' guard Karly Stache led the home team at the half with 17 points connecting on five-of-six shooting from behind the arc.
North Greenville came out on the attack reeling off nine unanswered points to go up by six, 35-29, as the second half got underway. A three-pointer by Goldner gave life back to the Royals' offense as they held their composure keeping within reach of the Crusaders.
Queens capitalized with just under 10 minutes on the clock converting a few Crusaders turnovers and missed shots into points as they worked their way back into the game. Hudley found a sprinting Goldner down the court for a lay-up and the tie at 7:02, 45-45.
“They dug deep and persevered, and they did it as a team. This is really good to see early because we are facing five straight road games. I will go to battle with this kind of effort any day,” said Coach Nix when asked about her team's effort tonight.
“I am really happy for the girls and how they represented tonight.”
After two more lead changes, Edmonds' free throws put the Royals ahead for good.
Queens out-rebounded the Crusaders 41-38 in tonight's contest led by Hudley's 15. Edmonds collected six boards while Shakaria Hamlin and Goldner grabbed five apiece.
Stache finished the game with 20 points leading the Crusaders as the Royals held her to only one-of-three shooting from deep in the second half.
The Royals will travel to Mars Hill, N.C., to battle the Lions on November 23, 2010 just before Thanksgiving. Tuesday's game has a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.
