SALISBURY, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team held a fourth quarter lead, but the Indians of Catawba College rallied for a 63-60 South Atlantic Conference victory on their home floor on Wednesday night.
 
The Royals (4-14, 1-11 SAC) opened the game by knocking down 6-of-12 shot attempts to build an early 12-7 lead after the first quarter of play. However, Catawba (11-8, 9-3 SAC) responded by winning the second period as the two team were knotted at 27-all at intermission.
 
Catawba hit a three-pointer early in the third quarter to break the tie before Queens' senior Melissa Blatnik answered by converting an and-one opportunity. The Indians eventually built a six-point lead with 6:01 to play, forcing Queens head coach Sarah Jansen to call a timeout.
 
Out of the timeout, freshman Caitlyn Moore hit a jumper that sparked a 10-2 run for the Royals that allowed Queens to take a two-point lead following a layup from junior Lade Adepoju. A Kristian Eanes layup with 16 seconds remaining helped the Royals build a five-point lead heading into the final quarter.
 
In the fourth period, Catawba scored eight unanswered points to retake the lead at 48-45 before Adepoju sunk a layup and made the ensuing free throw after a foul to tie the score once again. Adepoju gave Queens a two-point lead less than a minute later with another made layup.
 
The Indians converted their own and-one opportunity with 6:37 left on the clock to regain the advantage for good. The Royals were able to get within two points of the Catawba lead late in the game, but Catawba made three of four free throw attempts with under a minute remaining to seal the win.
 
Queens shot 48.8 percent from the field in the contest and forced its opponent to commit 20 turnovers for the third time in the last five contests, but Catawba held a 42-30 advantage in total rebounds, including 23 rebounds on the offensive end.
 
Adepoju led all scorers with 23 points, making 8-of-12 attempt from the floor and 7-of-9 free throw attempts, to go along with eight rebounds and three steals.
 
Eanes followed with 13 points in 29 minutes off of the bench, while Moore chipped in 12 points in the game. Freshman Herning Wang pulled down seven rebounds in reserve action.
 
The Royals return to the friendly confines of Curry Arena on Saturday, January 27, for a matchup with Anderson University (S.C.) at 2 p.m. Saturday's contest will be a part of Queens University of Charlotte and its celebration of Homecoming.