CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte had two players record double-doubles tonight as they defeated St. Andrews Presbyterian College, 87-44, at Ovens Athletic Center. With the win the Royals improve to 10-6 (11-10 overall), while the Knights drop to 1-13 (2-15 overall).
Both teams were off to a slow start to begin the game, as Queens didn't score a basket until Ashley McGuirt (Indian Trail, N.C., Providence Day) scored a three-pointer at 15:57. Both teams continued their struggles to get the ball in the basket untill Jazmine Edmonds (Manassas, Va., CD Hylton) sparked a 10-0 run for the Royals with a lay-up at 11:34. Kayla Hay of the Knights carried her team throughout the half with seven points and seven rebounds.
Queens was three for six from behind the three-point line at the half, all coming from McGuirt who led her team at the half with 10 points. The Royals went in to the locker room up by 19 points, 33-14, shooting 34.3% from the floor. The Royals defense, the only unit in Conference Carolinas holding its opponents to under 40-percent shooting, held St. Andrews to just 18.5% (5-of-27) in the opening period.
The Royals improved their second half play as many key players got on a roll in the scoring category. Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) got hot for Queens scoring 14 second half points to finish the game with 16 points and 13 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the year. Shakaria Hamlin (Hartsville, S.C., Hartsville) scored all of her 13 points in the second half of the game.
Queens led by as much as 45 points, 85-40, before winning the game 87-44. They finished the game shooting 39.5% from the floor after improving to 43.5% in the second. The Royals had five players score in double figures to snap a two-game skid. Dyonna Battle (Rocky Mount, N.C., Rocky Mount) scored 10 points in addition to Hudley's 16, Winstead's 18, Hamlin's 13, and McGuirt's 13. Jacquia Winstead (Elm City, N.C., Beddingfield) also snatched down 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Hudley had four assists, two blocks, and one steal to go along with her double-double
The Knights shot much better in the second half at 43.8% precision but was unable to recover as Queens nearly doubled their opponents total. Queens, ranked 11th nationally in rebounding margin, dominated the battle of the boards 47-34.
Queens took advantage of more than twice as many free throws, making 17-of-21 (81.0%) compared to 5-of-9 (55.6%) by SAPC. The Royals turned 18 Knights turnovers into 24 extra points.
St. Andrews' Kayla Hay finished with a double-double of her own with 18 points and 12 rebounds. She also had two assists and two blocks. Kayla McBath reached double figures scoring all 10 of her points in the second half of play.
The Royals will pick back up on Thursday against Lees-McRae College at 5:30 p.m., in Banner Elk, N.C.
