Postgame Interview with Sarah Jansen

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team picked up its first win of the season on Wednesday night, defeating the Bobcats of Lees-McRae College 80-68 inside Curry Arena.
 
The Queens defense forced 18 turnovers in the contest and held a 57-46 advantage in total rebounds, including 20 on the offensive end of the floor.
 
After the first quarter of play that ended with Lees-McRae (0-2) ahead 22-20 following a made three-pointer as the buzzer sounded, Queens (1-1) battled back to tie the score at 28-all on a layup by freshman Caitlyn Moore.
 
A 7-0 run ensued, highlighted by consecutive layups from junior transfer Lade Adepoju and a three-pointer from senior Mendy McNeese to put the Royals out in front. Queens continued to attack on offense, claiming a nine-point lead at intermission thanks in large part to 18 first-half points from Moore and nine each from Adepoju and freshman Kristian Eanes.
 
The second half saw the Royals continue to ride momentum as the team built its largest lead of the game, a 14-point edge with just under a minute to play in the third quarter, on a Herning Wang layup. The Bobcats were able to briefly cut the deficit to single digits in the final quarter of action, but a 6-2 down the stretch sealed the victory for the host.
 
Moore led all players in the contest with 21 points in her collegiate debut, while Adepoju tallied her first double-double as a Royal with 17 points, shooting 8-for-15 from the floor, and 14 rebounds.
 
Eanes had 13 points and seven rebounds in her first career game, followed by a 12-point performance from McNeese and a 7-point, 9-rebound night from Wang. Junior transfer Ceara Leavai chipped in eight points and six rebounds for Queens in 17 minutes off of the bench.
 
Queens takes on Southern Wesleyan University in its next game on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 4 p.m. in Central, S.C.

Click below for the postgame thoughts of Queens head coach Sarah Jansen.