CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Shonice Pettaway (Walstonburg, N.C., Greene Central) paced the Royals to a 65-57 win over Converse College this evening at Ovens Athletic Center in Conference Carolinas women's basketball action. Pettaway scored 16 points, and had 17 rebounds, five assists, and three steals helping the Royals snap their four-game losing streak, and improve to 10-8 in the league (11-13 overall).
Queens University of Charlotte now sits in fifth place tied with Belmont Abbey while the Valkyries drop to ninth place with a 4-14 conference record (4-21 overall).
Poor shooting plagued the Royals' offense again this evening as they shot 31-percent from the floor on 25-of-80 shooting. However, Queens relied on its aggressive defense to stay ahead of Converse collecting 17 steals and converting the Valkyries' 28 turnovers into 20 points.
The Royals quickly jumped out to a 12-2 lead early in the first half of play before the shots just stopped falling. Converse was able to get back into the game cutting the lead down to three on a jumper by Tasia Holdorf with 8:44 on the clock. Within three minutes Queens stretched the margin back out to 10 when Melissa Thomas (Havelock, N.C., Havelock) hit a jumper making the score 26-16. Another dry spell for Queens opened the window for Converse to pull within five before the Royals found some offense to close the half up by 12, 34-22.
Queens saw its largest lead of the game in the second half at 17:55 when Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) connected on a lay in after a steal by Pettaway. The Royals' cushion was short lived as Converse began slowly closing the gap. At 10:32, it was a one point game after a Queens turnover led to Holdorf scoring a fast break lay-up. Thomas answered for the Royals with a bucket before another basket brought the Valkyries to within one.
Queens responded stringing together a few short runs to keep control of the game and seal the eight point victory.
Hudley recorded one of three double-doubles in tonight's game scoring 15 points with 10 boards. Thomas finished the game with 14. Sarah Myatt (Burlington, N.C., Alamance) collected 12 rebounds and led all players with six steals.
Holdorf led the Valkyries with 23 points and seven rebounds. Morgan Sacharski notched a double-double with 10 points and 16 rebounds.
The Royals return to the court on Wednesday when they play host to Mount Olive College in a game slated to begin at 5:30 pm.
