CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The No. 4 seed Queens women's basketball team (18-11/15-7 CC) rolled over no. 8 seed Erskine (12-16/10-12 CC) tonight by a score of 81-58 to advance to the program's first conference tournament championship. The Royals will now face the no. 2 seed Anderson in Anderson, S.C., on Saturday night at 7pm.
The Royals came alive in the second half scoring 55 points, more than doubling their first half score of 26.
The first half was a back-and-fourth race up and down the court. The opening 20 minutes featured four lead changes, four ties and Queens held the largest lead of the half, seven points, 24-17. At the break Queens held a two-point edge, 26-24.
Queens' leading scorer and the game's high scorer
Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) scored 10 in the first half then added 17 in the second to end with 27 points.
It was all Queens in the second half. The Royals improved in overall shooting from 41.4% to 58.3%, was perfect from behind the three-point line and shot 81.8% at the free-throw line in the second half. The Flying Fleet also improved in the second half, but could not keep pace with the Royals offense.
Rebounding was a key factor in the win as Queens pulled down 47 boards to the Flying Fleet's 20. This week Queens was 15th in Division II in rebounding margin.
The Royals had three double-double players, Hudley with her 27 points and 12 rebounds, the game high,
Shakaria Hamlin (Hartsville, S.C., Hartsville), 10 points and 10 rebounds, and
Jacquia Winstead (Elm City, N.C., Beddingfield), 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Ashley McGuirt (Indian Trail, N.C., Providence Day) was 3-4 from long range and ended with 13 points.
Erskine's Elizabeth Tatum led the Fleet with 16 points while Porsha Morgan contributed 13.
This season the Royals lost two close games to Anderson, 67-65 and 65-63.
