Box Score BELMONT, N.C. – A late comeback was not enough for the Royals to top Belmont Abbey College this evening in women's basketball action. Queens University of Charlotte fell 60-52 to the Crusaders, dropping their record to 6-4 in the league and 8-6 overall. The Crusaders improve to 6-4 in conference play and 7-7 overall.
 
Junior forward Shonice Pettaway (Walstonburg, N.C., Greene Central) led the Royals with 11 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Tia Hudgins (Rocky Mount, N.C., Rocky Mount) scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds as well. Shatonya Hardy (Fayetteville, N.C., E.E. Smith) and Nikia Squire (Columbia, S.C., Ridge View) each recorded nine points. Squire led also led all with four steals.
 
After shooting just 21.9 percent from the floor in the first half, the Royals found themselves in a hole trailing 30-19 at the break.
 
The Crusaders would go up by as much as 16 points in the second half before the Royals began to chip away at their lead. Trailing by 14 points with 10:48 to play, Queens would put together a 14-4 run to close the gap to four, 47-43, with 4:51 to play. That was as close as the Royals would get to the Crusaders as time ticked off the clock forcing Queens to foul. Belmont Abbey took advantage, extending their lead back out to as much as nine before the final horn sounded.
 
The Royals improved their shooting percentage to 44.1 percent in the second half.
 
Kelsey Long led the Crusaders with 31 points.
 
The Royals return home to host Barton College on Thursday, January 24 at 5:30 p.m.