CHARLOTTE, N.C.  –  The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team played its final game before the mandatory NCAA DII winter break this evening facing Coker College at home in Curry Arena. The Royals fell in the tight battle with the Cobras by a score of 76-74 to move to 4-6 on the year and 0-5 in South Atlantic Conference play. Coker improved to 2-9 on the year and 1-3 in league play after collecting the win.
 
Freshman guard Jaymi Golden had a career night scoring 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting, connecting on 3-of-6 from deep and 6-of-8 from the charity stripe. Lade Adepoju added 13 points and four rebounds, while Jaleah Goff chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds. Carolina Bernardeco recorded six points, five rebounds, and four assists and Caitlyn Moore added six points, three rebounds, and four assists.
 
After sitting tied at 19-19 at the close of the first quarter, four straight points scored by Queens put the home team in front 23-19 early in the second. A jumper from Adepoju later in the period gave the Royals their largest lead of the half, but Coker closed with a 4-0 run to cut the gap to one, 36-35, heading into the break.
 
The Royals continued to lead in the third increasing the margin to as much as six midway through the quarter, but an 8-2 push by the Cobras tied the game at 50-50 with 2:21 on the clock. Three lead changes and two more ties followed before Coker was able to head into the fourth ahead, 57-56.
 
The lead changes continued in the fourth quarter with the Royals seeing their final lead of the night when Goff connected on a jumper at 2:37 that put them in front 71-70. Six consecutive points followed for Coker allowing them to take control of the game for good.
 
Coker outrebounded Queens, 46-34, grabbing 23 offensive boards. They were able to convert the rebounds into 24 second-chance points. Additionally, the Cobras outscored Queens 48-30 in the paint and totaled 25 fast-break points.
 
The Cobras were led by Ashauntee Nelson's 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. She also pulled down six rebounds. Hayley Kropp added 13 points while Saquita Joyner scored 11 points. Erin Houser chipped in with 10 points.
 
Queens will be back at home on Sunday, December 30 when they welcome Livingstone College to Curry Arena. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.