WISE, Va. - The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team (4-9 3-9 SAC) was edged in a tight road game with UVA Wise (5-11, 5-8 SAC) this afternoon, falling 77-74 to the Cavs.
 
In an unkempt back and forth first quarter, a quick 9-0 run gave the Royals a 15-7 lead. A three-pointer off the glass from Finley Lefevers then gave Queens a 20-9 lead just before the Cavs responded with a 7-1 run to give the game a 21-16 score at the end of the first quarter. Freshman forward Malea Garrison had an impressive six points in the period.
 
The Royals would build their lead over UVA Wise out to12, 30-18, early in the second quarter. Kalee Johnson from the Cavs answered with a layup at 5:55 and a pair of free throws followed for the home team as they cut into the Royals lead. However, Kalaya Hall would erase their four-point swing with a jumper and a layup to make the score 34-22 with 4:55 to play. Hall would finish the half with 15 points as the Royals took a 42-35 lead into the locker room.
 
The start of the third was tight as the Cavs outscored Queens 13-9 to close the margin to just one, 51-50, with 3:48 on the clock. A corner three from Mikayla Sink was right on time for Queens providing some much-needed cushioning, but a pair of fouls by the Royals sent the Cavs to the foul line where they connected on 4-of-4 to knot the game at 54-54 with 2:16 left in the period. They then took the lead on another pair of free throws. Taylor Stevens would even the game with a fastbreak lay-in at 1:03, but UVA Wise's Nia Vanzant answered with one of her own on the other end as the buzzer sounded to give the Cavs a two-point lead heading into the final quarter.
 
The Cavs would keep control of the game in the fourth building their lead out to as much as 10 before the Royals made their final push. Queens would string together a couple of runs to find themselves sitting even with the Cavs once more following a clutch Hall layup that gave the game a 74-74 score with 35-seconds on the clock. However, a three-pointer from UVA Wise's Jaymi Golden with two seconds on the clock would be today's game-winner.
 
Hall finished the game with 21 points, five assists, five steals, and two blocks. Stevens added 12 points, five assists, and four steals, while Hamze chipped in 11 points. Kennedy Fuller chipped in with a career-high 10 points off the bench.
 
The Royals will remain on the road for their next game as they travel to Greeneville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Jan. 19 to take on Tusculum. Tipoff is set for 5:30 pm
 
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