CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte (14-14, 12-8 CC) women's basketball team ended their season this evening in a win-or-go-home Conference Carolinas Tournament semifinal game against Barton College (24-4, 18-2 CC). The Royals fell 85-63 allowing the Bulldogs to advance the tournament championship game against Mount Olive College who defeated Limestone College 78-70.
The Bulldogs opened the game with the hot hand having more than doubled Queen's points at 11:51 as they led 21-10. The Royals would string together a six-to-zero run sparked by a three-point play by Shonice Pettaway (Walstonburg, N.C., Greene Central) and capped off by a Melissa Thomas (Havelock, N.C., Havelock) three pointer bringing them to within five of the host team. Pettaway poured in 17 first-half points keeping the Royals in striking distance of the top-seeded Bulldogs.
That was as close as Queens would get as second chance points allowed the Bulldogs stretch their lead back out to as much as 13. Pettaway closed the half with a jumper making the score 43-34 going in to the break.
In the second half, Queens fell behind 13 points at the hands of two quick Barton buckets. Despite their efforts, the Royals couldn't come back as the Bulldogs kept a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.
Pettaway led all scorers with 21 points after getting into foul trouble early in the second half. Thomas was next in line with 10, while Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C., Harding University ) and Jazmine Edmonds (Manassas, Va., CD Hylton) chipped in eight apiece. Shakaria Hamlin (Hartsville, S.C., Hartsville) led the Royals in rebounding with seven as Hudley collected six.
Leading the Bulldogs was Nyeshea Willie with 19 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Jamila Johnson scored 16 points and dished out six assists. Kelsey Sill and Faith Hunter scored 15 and 10, respectively. Jolanda Mitchell led Barton in rebounding with nine.
The Bulldogs connected on 32-of-66 shots going 48.5% from the floor compared to Queens' 39.7% shooting. Barton also out-rebounded the Royals 43-to-35 as they saw 48 points in the paint. Turnovers were costly for the Royals this evening as the Bulldogs converted them into 29 points.
