Box Score Charlotte, N.C. – It was a narrow defeat for Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team (5-14, 3-11 SAC) as they took the Tusculum College Pioneers (5-12, 5-9 SAC) down to the finally moments in the 69-66 loss on Saturday, January 31, 2015.
In a career high night for
Abby Pettit who took 18 points in the game, the Royals battled hard forcing five tying points throughout the matchup and grabbing six steals, three of which would be forced by Pettit.
McKell Oliverio led the floor as she grabbed 20 points for the team adding to five rebounds and two assists. Drawing closer to her high set last year of 55 blocks throughout the season,
Lacey Singletary piled four more to her record giving her 50 total for the year.
Tusculum's Blakeley Burleson tallied 19 points for the team making 10 of 18 shots from the floor. Maelyn Cutshaw fell close behind knocking down eight of her ten free throws to help give her 17 points in the game.
A narrow first half, led the teams into the locker room with Tusculum finding a 34-28 score. It was only after a 7-0 Tusculum run late in the first that either team saw a break away. Cutshaw would cap that opening for the Pioneers finding the basket from three-point range with 2:28 to go.
Although the Pioneers managed to extend the lead out to eight points with the help of two Cutshaw free-throws, they would not maintain their gap long. Queens pushed back with Pettit coming to the line to convert the three-point-play and bring the team within one. The two teams battled as Tusculum held the lead but never more than just two possessions. Finally
Erin Brundage broke through, giving the Royals the lead even if it was only momentarily. It was a race to the end from that point forward as both teams knocked down baskets forcing the other to answer. With time ticking down, Shynese Whitener found room in the paint to put the Pioneers out in front by five with 2:12 to play. Queens would make eight free throws in the closing moments but Tusculum managed to hang on with a three point lead.
The Royals face their next opponent on Wednesday, February 4, as Catawba travels to Curry Arena for the 6 p.m. showing.
