CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Four players scored in double figures for the Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team as the Royals picked up a 98-91 win over Piedmont International University to open the 2018-19 season on Saturday afternoon in Curry Arena.
 
Queens (1-0) shot 48.6% from the field, including making 20-of-33 shots in the second half of play, and made 41.2% of its three-point attempts. The defense held Piedmont International (1-3) to a 38.2% shooting performance and forced 26 total turnovers.
 
After a first quarter that saw both sides even at 23-23, Queens used a 7-2 run across the first three minutes of the second quarter to gain a five-point lead. The Bruins briefly tied the game at 32-all, but the Royals ended the opening half with back-to-back layups from sophomores Lauren Fields and Kristian Eanes to take a 42-38 lead into intermission.
 
Piedmont International battled back and eventually took a 51-48 lead over Queens with a three-pointer from Lily Sanchez with just under six minutes to go in the third quarter. The Royals responded with a 9-2 run, building a four-point lead following a Lade Adepoju layup before carrying a six-point advantage into the final period of play.
 
The Royals controlled the fourth quarter from start to finish, extending their lead to as large as 17 points with 1:50 remaining following two free throws from Fields.
 
Eanes made 10-of-15 shot attempts to total a game-high and career-high 24 points. Freshman Jaymi Golden followed with 17 points and four assists off of the bench, while fellow freshman Jaleah Goff had 11 points and 8 rebounds.
 
Senior transfer Carolina Bernardeco filled up the stat sheets, finishing with 12 points, seven steals, six assists and four assists to along with a 3-for-4 shooting performance from long range.
 
Queens remains at home for another non-conference contest on Wednesday, Nov. 14 as the team hosts Southern Wesleyan University at 6 p.m.