CHARLOTTE, N.C.- In the final regular-season game of the 2020-21 season, the Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team (1-18, 1-17 SAC) suffered a 72-61 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne University (6-13, 6-12 SAC).
 
Senior Caitlyn Moore opened the game with a quick layup which the Royals took advantage of jumping out to a 5-0 lead against the Bears. A pair of free-throws allowed the Bears to get on the board and cut the lead to three, but Queens answered with a 6-3 run to lead 11-5 at 5:24. Seven unanswered points from the Bears would give them their first lead of the night, but a layup from Queens' Moore returned control to the Royals at 2:57. Two lead changes followed,  but the Royals held a 19-15 lead at the end of the period thanks to back-to-back three-pointers from Kalaya Hall.
 
A triple from Tia McMillian at 7:07 in the second put the Royals on top by six once again but a 5-0 run by the Bears cut the margin to one, 26-25, at 3:01. A jumper from Emily Harman of Lenoir-Rhyne put the Bears in front at 2:14 and they eventually took a 33-28 lead into the half.
 
In the third quarter, a free-throw from Christina Deng brought the Royals within two, 33-31, with 8:04 to play, but that was as close as Queens would get as the Bears controlled the period leading by as much as 12 on multiple occasions. Queens would put together a string of runs in the final quarter as they fought to get back in front. However, after pulling within six, 67-61, with just 30 seconds left, Queens was forced to foul and the Bears were able to seal their victory at the free-throw line.
 
The Royals were led by Hall, who scored a new career-high of 30 points after finishing 9-of 17 from the floor, 4-of 7 from the three, and 8-of-11 from the charity stripe. Moore finished with 11 points while Deng chipped in seven points, 13 rebounds, and a career-high four blocks. 
 
Harman led the Bears with 29 points while Blaikley Crooks added 14 points.

Prior to today's game, Lauren Fields and Moore were honored and celebrated for the careers as Royals.
 
Queens will begin its post-season on Saturday, February 27, when they travel to take on fourth-seeded UVA Wise in the SAC Pilot Flying J Women's Basketball Championship. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 pm.