FLORENCE, S.C. – Taking on its second Peach Belt Conference school of the week, the Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team hung tough with Francis Marion University on Saturday afternoon. The Patriots used a late rally to pull away for a 72-64 victory in the Smith University Center.
 
The Royals (1-5) had their best offensive performance as the team shot 46.6 percent from the floor and committed just 16 turnovers. The Patriots (4-0) shot just 44.1 percent in the game but made nine 3-pointers in the game.
 
Francis Marion led 24-19 after the opening 10 minutes of play. Queens cut the deficit to just two points with 1:17 left in the first half after a three-point play from redshirt-freshman Taylor Stevens, as an FMU layup with two seconds remaining gave the Patriots a four-point halftime advantage.
 
Queens opened the second half with a 5-0 run, including two free throws from junior Julia Raflund and a 3-pointer from junior Caitlyn Moore to gain a one-point lead just1:15 into the third period. Francis Marion immediately retook the lead with a 3-pointer of their own just 15 seconds later and led by three heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Royals once again took a one-point lead in the fourth quarter on a layup from junior Kristian Eanes, however, the Patriots ended the game on a 6-2 run to pull away for the home win.
 
Eanes led the team with 17 points on 8-of-16 shooting, while Raflund followed with 12 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Jaymi Golden was the third Royal in double figures, finishing with 11 points to go along with five rebounds and eight assists.
 
Queens opens South Atlantic Conference play on Tuesday, November 26 when the team hosts defending SAC Champion Anderson University at 5:30 p.m. inside Curry Arena.