HICKORY, N.C. – Back in action tonight after a few weeks off, Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball suffered a tough loss at Lenoir-Rhyne University inside Shuford Gym.

Queens (0-6, 0-5 SAC) shot 35.9 percent from the field, including 7-for-27 (25.9%) from deep in the loss, but held the advantage in free-throw shooting, 81-percent to the Bears' 72-percent. The Bears (2-7, 2-7 SAC) connected on six three-pointers.

The Royals started out hot in the first quarter, building a 16-7 lead on the performances of Christina Deng and Tia McMillian who both played aggressively on the offensive end. However, the Bears were able to keep within reach of the Royals before tying things up in the second quarter, 24-24 with 8:40 on the clock. Lenoir-Rhyne then took over control of the lead, eventually taking a six-point advantage into the halftime break.

At the beginning of the third, Amari Davis quickly added two points on the scoreboard to cut the lead to four, 36-34, just 15 seconds into play. A 5-0 run for the Bears soon followed increasing their lead to eight, 44-36, before a momentum switch sparked by a three-pointer from McMillian closed the gap to two, 44-42, with 5:49 left to play in the third. The Bears quickly responded with back-to-back threes to extend their lead back out to eight twice more before Caitlyn Moore scored four-points straight to cut the lead to four with just 10 seconds left in the quarter. Kalaya Hall then ended the period hitting a buzzer-beater to make the score 57-55 heading into the final 15 minutes of play. Moore finished the third with nine points.

A three-pointer from Moore in the fourth brought the Royals to within one of Lenoir-Rhyne, 61-60, with 6:51 to play, but that was as close as the Royals would get as they went cold offensively and the Bears got hot building as much as a 14-point lead before the final horn sounded.

Deng totaled 14-points and five rebounds while McMillian tallied 12-points making four three-pointers. Moore shot perfect from the field bringing in 12-points, and Taylor Stevens added 12-points and four assists. Davis finished with a team-high nine rebounds for Queens.

The Royals' next game will be Wednesday, January 27 at Newberry College. Tipoff will be at 5:30 p.m.