CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team (1-4, 0-4 SAC) will travel to Mars Hill, N.C., to take on Mars Hill University (0-7, 0-5 SAC) Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. The South Atlantic Conference game will be the 19th meeting between the Royal and the Lions.
LAST TIME OUT
-A rough second half of play for the Royals led to them falling 74-41 to Tusculum University at home on Wednesday night.
Kalaya Hall led with 15 points to make it five straight games that she has reached double figures in scoring.
Kristy Hamze added eight points and six rebounds coming off the bench for the Royals while
Kiana Barkhoff totaled six points and four rebounds.
Taylor Stevens recorded five points, five rebounds, and six assists.
ABOUT THE ROYALS
-Queens is currently led by Hall who is averaging 17 points per game this season. She also ranks fifth currently in the SAC in points per game. Additionally, Hamze is averaging 10 points per game. Barkhoff tops the league and the Royals with 2.8 blocks per game and has a total of 14 so far in the season. She is also averaging six rebounds per game.
-The Royals opened their season with a win over Emory & Henry. It is the first time that Queens has kicked off their season in the win column since 2015. Since then, they have dropped four games in row, two having been to nationally-ranked opponents.
-Head Coach
Jen Brown is in her second season leading the Royals. Queens enters the year in rebuilding mode welcoming six newcomers to a squad of nine returners.
ABOUT THE LIONS
-Mars Hill is currently in the hunt for their first win of the season and on a seven game losing streak. Most recently, the Lions suffered a 75-61 loss to Anderson University.
-De'Ja Marshall and Zanah Boyd lead Mars Hill in scoring and rebounding. Marshall is currently averaging 15.6 points and 8.4 rebounds, while Boyd is adding 12.3 points and 7.4 rebounds on each outing.
-The Lions are coached by Briana Clark who is in her third season leading Mars Hill.
SERIES HISTORY
-Mars Hill leads the series with the Royals, 10-9. The Royals defeated Mars Hill in their last meeting on Jan. 30, 2021, 74-60, after a two game losing streak to the Lions. The win was the first career win for
Jen Brown as a head coach. Stevens finished with 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Hall added 20 points and dished out four assists.
Christina Deng finished with a double-double with 12 points and a career-high of 15 rebounds while
Amari Davis teased a double-double with nine points and nine boards.
-The last time the Royals swept the Lions during the regular season was during the 2018-19 season.
Be sure to follow the Royals on Twitter @queenswbb and Instagram @queenswbb to stay up to date on all the latest news surrounding the women's basketball program. Additionally, follow Queens Athletics on all social media platforms by searching @QueensAthletics.
