GREENVILLE, TENN.- The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team found a win on the road, defeating Tusculum on Saturday, January 14, 2017, 60-45. The Royals, who led at the end of all four quarters, moved to 4-11 overall and 4-6 in the South Atlantic Conference while the Pioneers dropped to 3-11 on the season and 2-8 in league play.
 
The game started with Tusculum finding a 5-1 lead, playing through the first four and a half minutes of the game. McKell Oliverio drained a three to put the Royals in position to take control of the quarter, which came moments later with a layup from Maggie Stewart with 4:19 remaining in the first quarter of play (6-5). Although Tusculum answered with baskets, Queens took the lead after the first ten minutes of play with a 14-13 score.
 
Sarah Henson hit the first shot of the second quarter, finding the basket from long range. The Royals outscored the Pioneers 15-8 in the second quarter with their largest lead coming from Stewart who hit a free-throw with 1:45 to play, moving Queens ahead 27-19. She followed with a layup, with a minute left on the clock, to keep the team eight points ahead going into the half, 29-21.  
 
Six unanswered points by Tusculum brought the Pioneers within two as Queens was unable to find the net in the first three minutes of the second half. Oliverio broke the dry spell converting a three-point-play to push her team back out to a 32-27 score. Oliverio's basket launched the team on a 9-1 run that took the quarter into its final seconds. Benedicta Makakala closed the quarter with a three-pointer for the Pioneers as Queens went into the final ten minutes of play with a 40-31 score.
 
The Royals closed the game with a 20-14 score in the fourth quarter of play as both teams swapped baskets early on. Queens would make six-of-six free-throws in the final minute to give them a 15 point lead over the home team.
 
Queens shot 50 percent from the floor with Oliverio tabbing her 12^th double-digit game of the season with 21 points. Henson secured a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, the team high. Stewart added an additional 11 points to the team's night while Mendy McNeese tallied 10 rebounds.
 
Tusculum saw two players reach double-digits as Callie Patterson found 14 points in the game while Kasey Johnson grabbed 11 points. Johnson, additionally, led the team in rebounds with eight.
 
The Royals will face Wingate at home on Wednesday, January 18. The game is scheduled to tipoff at 6 p.m.