GREENVILLE, S.C. - A reunion of Queens University of Charlotte head coach Jen Brown and Furman's head coach Jackie Carson set the stage for Sunday afternoon's non-conference showdown. Brown, a standout guard at James Madison University (2006-08) played under then assistant coach Carson, who held a spot on the bench for the Dukes for five seasons (2006-10). In her 11th season at the helm for Furman, Carson has set the tone for leaders in the women's basketball community. For Brown, having the unique opportunity to go head-to-head with a friend and mentor, was special.

"Coach Carson is a great leader and even better human being," said Brown. "She is one of my closest mentors. I will cherish this moment forever."

College basketball isn't easy. At any level. For the Royals, this experience will pay dividends down the road and serve as a reminder of why preparation and dedication are so important. 

"I'm proud of my ladies' effort," Brown added. "1-13 played hard and did not give up. That's all you can ask for as a coach. These are the types of games that will help our program grow."

The story of the game was the matchup in the low block. The Paladins took care of business, notching 38 points in the paint and winning the rebounding battle, 50-29. Queens shot 33 percent from the field for the game, compared to 41 percent for Furman, leading to a 67-53 home win for the Division I opponent in Greenville. 

Freshman guard Kalaya Hall led Queens with 16 points, seven assists and four rebounds. She shot 3-for-7 from long range in 34 minutes of action. Junior forward Christina Deng added 13 points and five rebounds. She caught fire late, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter. Junior guard Tia McMillian continued to show her value to this Royals squad, drilling three three-pointers for nine points. Kristian Eanes added six points in 23 minutes. 

Furman guard Tierra Hodges led all players with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds. Senior forward Celena Taborn recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 17 minutes. Junior Grace Van Rij added 11 points and five rebounds, while senior guard Tyah Hunter rounded out the top performers with 10 points, four assists, four boards and two steals. 

Hall got going early with the first five Royals points. Taborn was a force from the jump, netting a quick 10 points in the opening period. Paladins shot 6-for-10 early on, ahead of the first media timeout. Queen notched a pair of threes, from Hall and senior Caitlyn Moore (six points). Both teams battled to find their handles, as they combined for 16 early turnovers (10 by the Paladins). 

Furman used a 7-0 run late in the second quarter to build their lead, including 10 points by Hodges. The Paladins held position in the low post with a 30-15 rebounding advantage, but Queens' gameplan to remain active on defense helped them force 14 first-half turnovers against a team ranked fourth in the Southern Conference (SoCon) preseason poll. 

Junior guard Grayson Boone (eight points) scored five-straight points for the Paladins to kickoff the second half. The lead extended to 25 due to a Boone pull-up three and a 13-0 run within the first four minutes in the third. The deficit grew to 31 at 55-24 at the three-minute mark and Furman held on through the fourth for the win. 

UP NEXT
The Royals are out of action for a couple days, before welcoming the Catawba Indians to Curry Arena on January 6. The action begins at 5:30 p.m. on the Queens Sports Network (QSN).