Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Sophomore guard Nikia Squire led all players on the court this evening with 16 points as the Royals fell 55-48 in their season opener to Benedict College. The loss helps the Tigers improve to 2-1 on the season, while Queens University of Charlotte begins their 2013 campaign at 0-1.
 
Queens' Shonice Pettaway would net the first basket of the game with a three-pointer, putting the Royals ahead early. They would lead up until a pair of free-throws by Amanda Toliver of Benedict put the visiting Tigers up, 15-14, with 7:43 on the clock. A turnover and foul on the next possession would send the Tigers back to the line where they would extend their lead to three, 17-14.
 
Freshman guard McKell Oliverio would tie things up with 4:08 on the clock. Another jumper from the Florence, Ky., native would put Queens back ahead by two, 23-21. However, the Tigers would regain the lead with a three at 2:15.
 
At the break, Queens trailed the Tigers, 26-23, following a half where both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket. Queens would fare better shooting from the field with a 32.3 field goal percentage, while Benedict shot 26.9 percent from the floor.
 
Benedict would control the game in the second half, seeing their largest lead at 7:11 when Toliver scored a fast-break layup following a steal on the defensive end of the floor.
 
The Royals attempt to get back into the game began with a pair of baskets from Oliverio. A Micha Cox basket from three-point land would cut the Tigers' lead to four, 52-48, with 1:08 to play. Unfortunately, the Tigers would connect on an easy bucket after breaking the Royals' press to extend their lead back out to six with 40 seconds to play. They would hold off the Royals in the final seconds to escape Curry Arena with the win.
 
Both teams improved their field goal percentage in the second half with the Royals shooting 44.4 percent from the floor. The Tigers shot 46.2 percent.
 
Pettaway finished the game with 11 points behind Squire's 16, while Oliverio scored eight in her debut. Squire and Pettaway each pulled down eight boards.
 
The Tigers were led by Latoya Fairley who scored 14 points, while Toliver and Santera Grooms each chipped in with 10 points. Grooms also grabbed 10 rebounds to record a double-double.
 
The Royals are on the road on Saturday at Converse College. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.