BANNER ELK, N.C. - Melissa Thomas (Havelock, N.C., Havelock) shot a perfect eight-for-eight from the free-throw line in route to scoring a career high 26 points in this evening's game against Lees-McRae College(1-3, 1-8). Queens University of Charlotte (4-0, 5-5) picked up its second win in a row defeating the Bobcats 70-57.
Tonight's win keeps the Royals undefeated in Conference Carolinas action. Queens now sits behind the only other undefeated team in the league, Barton College(4-0, 8-2), at number two.
Thomas led all scorers with her 26 points. She also collected four steals and two rebounds. Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) was the second leading scorer for Queens with 14 points. Hudley also led all rebounders in the game with 16 giving her another double-double this season bringing the count to six. Erin Goldner (Matthews, N.C., Piedmont) netted eight points, dished out three assists, and had three steals. Shakaria Hamlin (Hartsville, S.C., Hartsville) rounding out the bulk of Queens' scoring with seven points. She also snatched down seven rebounds.
After a three-pointer by Zukye Smith put the Bobcats up 20-14 with 8:22 left in the first half, Queens reeled off 17 straight points taking over control of the game for good. At the break, the Royals held a 14 point lead, 41-27.
The Royals continued to lead throughout the second half of play though the Bobcats tried to scratch their way back in to the game. Lees-McRae got within seven points of tying the game on more than one occasion, but the Bobcats couldn't build a large enough run to close the gap.
Janina Thurau led the Bobcats with 14 points. Chloe Parker almost reached a double-double with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Icey Patterson scored 11 points.
Queens shot an impressive 100% from the free-throw line, and shot 44.4% from the floor. The Royals bench scored 35 of Queens' 70 points. Queens also out-rebounded the Bobcats 48-20 in the win.
The Royals have the weekend off before playing host to St. Andrews Presbyterian College on Monday at 5:30 p.m., at The Oven.
