DUE WEST, S.C. – A furious rally by Queens University of Charlotte wasn't enough to overcome Erskine College this evening as the Royals fell 64-59. Queens falls to 9-7 in the league (10-12 overall) dropping to sixth place. Erskine now sits in seventh place at 8-8 in the conference (10-12 overall).
Jazmine Edmonds (Manassas, Va., CD Hylton) put the Royals on the board first with a jumper early in the game, but a three pointer by Jean Marie Harris on Erskine's first possession of the game would give them a lead they would hold for the rest of the first half. A layup from Harris with just less than three minutes left in the half would push the Fleet lead to 13.
Queens found some offense late in the half going on an 8-0 run to make it a 27-22 game at the break
Erskine opened the half holding on to their lead over the first three minutes, but Queens answered with six straight points to tie the game at 34. The teams battled back and forth over the next four minutes, with Erskine never leading by more than two points.
With 11 minutes remaining in the game, Melissa Thomas (Havelock, N.C., Havelock) drained two free-throws giving Queens its first lead since the opening possession. Trailing by one point, Porsha Morgan of Erskine attacked the basket making a layup giving Erskine a 45-44 lead they would not relinquish. Queens would make it a one point game with time running out, but Morgan wasn't finished scoring five points in the final 10 seconds to seal the victory for the Fleet.
Sarah Myatt (Burlington, N.C., Alamance) led the Royals recorded the first double-double of her career with 12 points and 11 boards. Thomas finished the game with 10 points and seven rebounds. Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) led all rebounders with 13 but was held to six points.
Morgan of the Fleet shot 10-16 from the floor to lead all scorers with 30 points, while Harris added 12.
The Fleet improve to 10-12 overall and 8-8 in the conference, while Queens falls to 10-12 and 9-7.
The Royals are back in action on Saturday against Pfeiffer University for Homecoming back at The Oven. The game is slated to begin at 5:30 pm.
