CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte Royals welcomed Belmont Abbey College to The Oven this evening in what was the regular season finale for both teams. The Royals picked up the win defeating The Abbey 62-52. The win clinches the Conference Carolinas fifth place spot for Queens (13-13 12-8CC) heading in to the tournament. The Abbey (12-14 11-9) closes the season in seventh.
Queens will advance to face Pfeiffer University on Tuesday, March 1st to begin their quest for the Conference Carolinas Tournament Title. The Crusaders will play Mount Olive in round one of the tournament.
Queens opened the game getting on the board first for a short lived early lead that saw five turnovers for the Crusaders on five consecutive trips down the floor. The Abbey got their act together putting together a string of runs tying the game up before taking the lead. The Crusaders led for most of the first half, building their lead to as high as eight points at 23-15 with 6:36 to go, but Queens closed the half on a 13-3 run to carry a 29-26 lead into the break.
After a jumper by Melissa Thomas (Havelock, N.C., Havelock) brought the Royals within of six, Sarah Myatt (Burlington, N.C., Alamance) delivered an old-fashioned three-point play to close the gap even more. Another basket by Myatt put the Royals down by one before Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) gave the Royals the lead on a lay in at the rim. Hudley assisted Dyonna Battle (Rocky Mount, N.C., Rocky Mount) and Shakaria Hamlin (Hartsville, S.C., Hartsville) on the last two buckets of the half for Queens.
The Royals never surrendered their lead for the duration of the game and raised it to as high as 13 points at 59-46 with 2:47 to go. Back-to-back three pointers from Melisa Foures and Kelsey Long of The Abbey sliced the lead to seven, but Queens scored the final three points of the game to seal the win.
Hudley led all scorers tonight with 21 points. She also collected 12 rebounds giving her 19 double-doubles on the year. Hamlin and Thomas each finished with nine points. Hamlin also grabbed seven boards. Myatt netted eight points and had seven rebounds. The Royals worked hard tonight on the defensive end forcing the Crusaders to commit 16 turnovers that were converted into 11 points for Queens.
Shayla Jackson led The Abbey wit h12 points and 11 rebounds. Candace Fox scored 13 points and had five rebounds.
After the win, Queens recognized its four seniors on the women's basketball team. Jazmine Edmonds (Manassas, Va., CD Hylton), Erin Goldner (Matthews, N.C., Piedmont), Hamlin, and Hudley were acknowledged for their contributions to the rebuilding of the women's basketball program here at Queens. The four Royals have been a part of some of the most successful seasons of the decade for the program.
The Royals will travel to Misenheimer, N.C., to take on Pfeiffer University on Tuesday at 7 pm. Pfeiffer swept the Royals this season in conference play.
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