MOUNT OLIVE N.C. — The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team lost a road game this evening to Mount Olive College, 68-66. Tonight's loss gives the Trojans (8-1, 11-4) control of the number two spot as the Royals (6-4, 7-9) remain in fourth place.
Last season, the Royals were 2-0 against the Trojans. On the road, Queens won 77-64 led by Marissa Hudley's (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Hudley was almost in identical form scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 boards in the Royals' loss tonight. Dyonna Battle (Rocky Mount, N.C., Rocky Mount) scored 16 points, and had six rebounds and five assists. Shakaria Hamlin (Hartsville, S.C., Hartsville) sunk 15 points to go along with her three rebounds and three assists. Jazmine Edmonds (Manassas, Va., CD Hylton) battled under the basket collected eight rebounds.
In a game that saw 13 lead changes and six ties, the final outcome was bound to come down to the wire as it did.
With 1:52 left on the clock, Battle gave the Royals a six point lead making it seem that Queens would walk away the victor this evening. However, a jumper scored by Jasmine Whitby kept the Trojans alive. A missed field goal and foul by Queens led to Shequanta McGee bringing Mount Olive to within two of the Royals with 45 seconds on the clock.
The Trojans were forced to foul with time on the Royals' side putting Battle at the line. Battle was successful knocking down two making it a two possession game with 33-seconds left in the game. McGee continued to fight scoring a quick lay-up giving Queens only a two point lead with 27 ticks on the clock.
Andrea Jones, Conference Carolinas Player of the Week for week eight, picked up a steal and scored a basket tying the game at 66 with 24-seconds left to play. After a missed jumper by Queens, Jones was fouled with 2.4 ticks on the clock. Jones would knock down the free-throws stealing the game away from the Royals.
The Royals out-rebounded the Trojans 35-28 in this evening's contest. Mount Olive collected 13 steals as Queens saw 24 turnovers in the loss.
Jones led the Trojans with 22 points. Whitby scored 17 points and had eight rebounds. Jasmine McDonald scored 10 points.
Queens is back in action at home against Coker College on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The Royals beat the Cobras in convincing fashion earlier this season, 82-44.
