HICKORY, N.C. – Playing short-handed for the second straight contest, the Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team suffered a 67-58 loss at the hands of Lenoir-Rhyne University on Saturday afternoon inside Shuford Gymnasium.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne opened the game shooting 50% from the floor in the first quarter to hold a 15-12 lead over the Royals. The two sides were scoreless for three and a half minutes to open the second quarter before the Bears' Kennedy Weigt knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to put LR ahead 21-14 with just under six minutes remaining in the first half.
 
The Bears' lead hit double digits, 24-14, with 4:36 on the clock before sophomore Tia McMillian responded with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit back to single digits. McMillian's 3-pointer sparked a 14-1 run by the Royals that culminated with McMillian's second 3-pointer of the quarter that put Queens ahead 28-25 with 38 second to play. Lenoir-Rhyne's Blair Barefoot answered with a 3-pointer of her own just 18 seconds later as the teams went into the halftime break tied at 28-all.
 
Queens trailed by three, 44-41, through three quarters of play before taking a 45-44 lead early in the fourth on a layup from junior Kristian Eanes. The lead traded hands twice until consecutive baskets by Karlie Bearden gave the Bears a lead they never relinquished in securing the home victory.
 
Weight had a game-high 21 points for the Bears, making 6-of-13 attempts from distance, while forward Madeline Hardy collected a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Bearden finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds off of the bench.
 
Eanes led the Royals with 20 points to go along with six rebounds and three steals, while junior Caitlyn Moore totaled 11 points of her own. McMillian finished with nine points and career-high seven rebounds and junior Julia Raflund followed with eight points and six rebounds.
 
The Royals conclude their three-game road trip next Wednesday, January 29 against Anderson University at 5:30 p.m. from Anderson, S.C.