CHARLOTTE, N.C – Junior guard
Kalaya Hall poured in 41 points to set a new program single-game record this evening as the Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team fell to Anderson University (9-7, 9-3 SAC) by a score of 102-80 inside Curry Arena. The loss brings the Royals' overall record to 4-8 and their South Atlantic Conference record to 3-8.
Hall was an impressive 14-of-24 on the night connecting on 6-of-11 from deep and a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. She breaks a record that was set by Queens Hall of Famer Sequoya Friday who scored 40 points against Lees-McRae on Jan. 7, 1998.
Additionally,
Finley Lefevers finished with 13 points and eight rebounds while
Taylor Stevens continued to fill up the stat sheet tallying 11 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.
Malea Garrison chipped in with seven points and six rebounds.
Trailing early in the game, 8-3, Queens would put together a 5-2 spurt to pull within two of the Trojans, 10-8. The Trojans answered pulling back in front by nine, but six straight from Hall would pull Queens back within a bucket's reach with 2:21 to play. Three the old-fashioned way from Stevens gave the game a one-point margin, 24-23, but a late layup by Anderson would give them a 26-23 lead heading into the second quarter.
The Trojans quickly built their lead in the second with a 5-0 push and Queens found themselves trailing by 11, 39-28, with 7:38 to play. A jumper from Taylor Hair of the Trojans put them ahead by 13 with 5:59 on the clock, and they maintained at least a seven-point cushion before eventually taking a 53-43 lead into the halftime break.
The Royals would come out of the locker room with the momentum as they used a 13-4 run to cut the margin to one, 57-56, with 4:56 on the clock in the third. Hall scored eight points during the run capping it with a triple. She then scored the next five for Queens to equalize the game at 61-61 with 3:47 to play. Unfortunately, the momentum then swung in Anderson's favor as they closed the quarter with a 13-2 run.
The Trojans would keep control of the game in the fourth building their lead out to as much as 23 points twice before securing the win.
Shameka McNeill led the Trojans with 32 points and 11 rebounds while Hair added 19 points and eight rebounds. Nelliah Wilson totaled 18 points and eight rebounds, and Diamond McDowell added 15 points and eight rebounds.
The Royals are back at it this weekend as they travel to UVA Wise to take on the Cavs on Saturday, Jan. 15. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Wise, Va.
Be sure to follow the Royals on Instagram and Twitter @queenswbb for the latest news and updates on the women's basketball team.
