Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team (2-12, 0-9 SAC) fell behind early in the game against the Tusculum Pioneers (7-6, 5-5 SAC) and were unable to mount a comeback as they fell to the Pioneers 74-55 on Saturday, January 16, 2016.
 
The Royals shot 37 percent from the field in the game and were cold from deep range as they could connect on only 2-of-14 three pointers. Queens was led by McKell Oliverio who scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds in the game. Carmen Richardson and Sheridan Pressley added 11 and 10 points for the Royals.
 
Tusculum jumped on top early in the game as they were up 12-2 following a Shynese Whitener jumper at the 2:47 mark in the first quarter. Queens held the Pioneers close as Pressley's basket cut the lead down to eight points, 21-13, with 8:18 remaining in the first half. Tusculum would answer as they went on to score seven straight points to make the score 28-13 with just over seven minutes to go in the second quarter. Richardson's free throws would help the Royals cut the lead down to 13, 34-21 with two minutes left in the half, but the Pioneers would end the half on a 7-0 run to take a 40-21 lead into the half.
 
Queens worked to keep the Pioneers at bay as the once 23 point Tusculum lead would get cut down to 16 points, 51-35 after a made free throw from Oliverio with 2:42 left in the third quarter. Erin Brundage knocked down a three pointer with 6:17 left in the game to make the score 63-45 in favor of the Pioneers. Pressley's jumper with 2:51 cut the lead down to 15, 66-51, but the Pioneers were too strong as they defeated the Royals 74-55.
 
Sydney Wilson scored a game-high 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting for Tusculum. Shynese Whitener added 19 points, six assists, and five rebounds in the win. Kasey Johnson was the team's leading rebounder as she added 11 rebounds to go with her 11 points.
 
The Royals return to the court on Wednesday, January 20th as they travel to Wingate University to take on the Bulldogs at 6:00p.m.