Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte (12-9) defeated Belmont Abbey College (10-11) this evening by a score of 86-55 at the Grady Cole Center. The Royals improved to 10-7 in the league after picking up their first win over the Crusaders since the 2010-11 season, while the Belmont Abbey dropped to 9-8.  
 
Sarah Myatt (Show Camp, N.C., Southern Alamance) and Melissa Thomas (Havelock, N.C., Havelock) led the Royals wit h16 points apiece, while Shanel Sweet (Land O'Lakes, Fla., Land O' Lakes) and Shonice Pettaway (Walstonburg, N.C., Greene Central) added 15 and 13 points, respectively. Pettaway also pulled down 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. Myatt also recorded a double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds. Sweet led all on the court dishing out six assists.
 
Belmont Abbey went ahead early scoring five quick points in the opening minutes of action before the Royals got going. Queens would score six straight to take over the lead at 13:07, but the Crusaders responded with another run to take a five-point lead as the half approached the 10 minute mark. The Royals would then erupt with a 34-9 run in the final 10 to take over the game for good.
 
Queens kept up their defensive pressure through the second half going up by as much as 36 points before the final horn sounded.
 
The Royals forced the Crusaders to turn the ball over 29 times, converting those mishaps into 30 points on the offensive end tonight. Queens also outscored the Crusaders 38-14 in the paint.
 
The Royals move into fourth place in Conference Carolinas with the victory.
 
Morgan Midkiff led the Crusaders with 20 points and eight rebounds.
 
Queens returns to action on Saturday against Erskine College at 5:30 p.m. for Homecoming.