CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte picked up its third win in a row this evening in The Oven against Conference Carolinas opponent Lees-McRae College. The Royals defeated the Bobcats 74-67 improving to 9-4 in conference play and 10-9 overall. Lees-McRae falls to 3-14 (3-9 CC).
Melissa Thomas (Havelock, N.C., Havelock) connected on 9-of-16 attempts from the floor to pace the Royals with 24 points, as Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) turned in a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Jessica Lewis (Hampton, Va., Bethel) and Shonice Pettaway (Walstonburg, N.C., Greene Central) each tallied nine points, while Lewis dished out a game-high seven assists. Pettaway and Shakaria Hamlin (Hartsville, S.C., Hartsville) also each pulled down eight rebounds.
The opening half featured closely matched play, with neither team holding more than a five-point advantage through the first 15 minutes of the period. Queens finished the half strong, closing out the period with a 10-3 run to take a 35-27 lead into the intermission.
The Royals carried the momentum into the second half, pushing the margin to 49-37 with a 14-10 run, which was capped by a Thomas triple with 13:53 to play. The trifecta was her third of the half.
Lees-McRae soon responded, cutting the lead to 51-46 with a layup by Icey Patterson at the 12:12 mark on the heels of a 9-2 spurt.
Hudley helped the Royals answer scoring six points in an 11-2 run that gave Queens its largest lead of the game at 62-48 with 9:02 to play. Lees-McRae rallied once again, trimming the margin to 62-57 with a 9-0 spurt over the next minute and a half. However, Queens refused to cede control, reclaiming the momentum and holding on for the 74-67 win.
Queens shot 44.4-percent on the night, including a 51.6 percent clip in the second half, while holding the Bobcats to a 41.3-percent mark from the floor. Queens controlled the battle on the boards by a 52-33 margin on the night, including a 20-8 advantage on the offensive glass, while outscoring Lees-McRae 21-7 in second chance points
Icey Patterson paced the Bobcats with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting, grabbing a team-high six rebounds and converting 4-of-5 attempts at the free throw line. Sophie Witte, Janina Thurau and Kasey Haynes joined Patterson in double figures with 13, 12 and 10 points, respectively. Witte and Zukye Smith equaled Patterson's team-high six boards.
Hudley was recognized as Queens' all-time leading scorer this evening during halftime of the men's game. She is now chasing down Taquina Billups' all-time rebounding record of 925. Hudley needs 44 rebounds to top Billups.
The Royals will travel to face Limestone College on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. before returning to The Oven on Saturday to take on Converse College.
