MARS HILL, N.C. - The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team (0-1, 0-1 SAC) came alive in the second half, but came up just shy against the Mars Hill University Mountain Lions, 83-78, on Tuesday night. Royals' head coach, Jen Brown, made her debut leading the squad, and had the team hitting all cylinders down the stretch to try and steal the win.

Three players scored double-digit points for the Royals; led by freshman guard Kristy Hamze (Richmond, Va.) with 23 points, along with three assists and three steals. Sophomore Kalaya Hall notched 21 points in her Royals debut, while senior standout guard Kristian Eanes heated up late, finishing with 21 points and five steals.

Both teams came out the gate and got the first-game jitters out of the way. A one-point game after the first quarter, Mars Hill (1-0, 1-0 SAC) went on a 10-0 run midway through the second to maintain breathing room. With a 26-13 advantage in the second quarter, Mars Hill seemed to be in control. 

Coming out for the second half, Queens shot 50 percent from the floor in the third (7-for-14) and got eight points from Eanes, who had been limited in the first half. The Royals capitalized in the up-tempo offense, earning 12 fastbreak points, and getting great effort from their backcourt driving the lane. 

This game came down to the fourth quarter. With Eanes and Hamze connecting from long-range with under a minute to go in the third, the momentum was finally starting to swing in the Royals' favor. 

A 9-0 run to open the final frame - and six straight points from Eanes - got the Royals within three and the bench was feeling the energy. Free throws from Hamze at the 6:14 mark gave Queens their first lead since the first quarter. Hall made the play of the game with a textbook step-back three, and the lead was four at 70-66. Eanes scored 13 of her 21 points in the fourth, giving the Royals a 28-19 advantage in the quarter. 

Mars Hill's De'Ja Marshall (Chester, S.C.) was not going down without a fight, as the senior guard scored eight-straight points to give the Mountain Lions an 8-3 run with under two minutes in regulation. Marshall led all scorers with 33 points and 15 rebounds, to secure the double-double. Alexis Pardue added 10 points for Mars Hill. 

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The Royals have a quick turnaround, as they'll head to Hartsville, S.C. for a matchup with Coker University on Thursday, December 10. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.