WINGATE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team suffered a 68-51 loss to in-state rival No. 21 Wingate University on Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena.
 
Wingate, ranked No. 21 in the latest WBCA Coaches Poll and No. 15 in the D2SIDA Media Poll, improved to 18-3 overall with a 12-2 mark in South Atlantic Conference play after outscoring Queens 38-22 in the paint and holding a 36-21 advantage in total rebounds.
 
Queens fell to 4-17 overall with a1-14 mark in the league after making 20-of-26 shots from the floor and 8-of-10 free throw attempts. The Royals' Achilles heel proved to be long range as the team was just 3-for-14 on three-point attempts.
 
The Royals opened the contest with back-to-back baskets from freshman Lauren Fields and junior Lade Adepoju, but Wingate ended the first quarter on a 12-4 run to build a seven-point lead.
 
The Bulldogs opened a double digit lead early in the second quarter before Queens used a 12-3 run to close the gap to two points. Six unanswered points over a 1:40 stretch put Wingate ahead by eight points at intermission.
 
A three-pointer by Wingate's Carolina Averette build the advantage back to double figures in the third quarter as the Bulldogs led by as many as 17 points early in the fourth period. A jumper from freshman Caitlyn Moore briefly cut the deficit back to single digits, but Wingate ended the contest with eight consecutive points to seal the win.
 
The Queens defense was able to hold Wingate's Marta Miscenko to just nine points on a 4-for-14 shooting performance, while Adepoju led all players with a game-high 18 points in just 26 minutes. Fellow junior Ceara Leavai followed with eight points, making 3-of-4 shot attempts including 2-of-3 from deep, as Moore had six points and five rebounds.
 
Queens week continues with a trip to Jefferson City, Tenn. on Saturday, February 10 to take on league-leading No. 2 Carson-Newman University at 2 p.m.