GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team (5-9, 4-9 SAC) defeated Tusculum University (6-11, 4-9 SAC) on the road this evening snapping an eight-game skid to the Pioneers that dates back to the 2016-17 season.
 
Queens had the hot hand early building a 12-5 lead in the first quarter of this evening's game. The Pioneers would close the gap to one, 12-11, on a triple from Jalia Arnwine with 2:42 to play, but a quick five points from Finley Lefevers helped the Royals close the period with a 17-13 lead. Queens shot 44-percent from the floor in the quarter with seven points coming from Lefevers.
 
The Pioneers had the energy early in the second using a 9-2 run to tie the game at 22-22 with 7:27 on the clock. A layup from Kalaya Hall would return control to the Royals, but just for a short time as Queens would not score another field goal for the rest of the half. A three-pointer and a jumper from the Pioneers helped them build a 29-25 lead with 2:33 to play, but they would experience a scoring drought as well. A pair of free throws from Lefevers at 1:11 would be the final points of the period from either team as Tusculum took a 29-27 lead at the break.
 
Trailing by four in the third, Queens would go three minutes without a field goal. A jumper from Hall at 5:03 started a 6-0 run that closed the margin to one, 38-37. However, the Pioneers would respond with an 8-0 push to keep control of the game. A bucket from Hall at the close of the quarter gave the game a 46-39 score heading into the final 10 minutes of action.
 
A layup from Lefevers at 8:27 would be the first basket of the fourth as the Royals scored six unanswered points to pull within one again, 46-45. Queens then tied the game up three times before Hall found Taylor Stevens open under the basket for an easy two points with 28 seconds to play. The bucket would put the Royals on top 51-49 and a free-throw from Stevens with five seconds left in regulation would provide insurance as time ticked off the clock.
 
Hall led all players on the court with 18 points while Lefevers recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double as a Royal. Stevens finished with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals while Kristy Hamze added eight points. Malea Garrison recorded seven rebounds.
 
Brianna Dixon led the Pioneers with 12 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double while Arnwine totaled 11 points. Mya Belton finished with nine points and 14 rebounds.
 
The Royals are scheduled to be back at home inside Curry Arena on Saturday, Jan. 22. Tipoff with Mars Hill is at 2 p.m. Queens will be looking for a regular-season sweep over the Lions after collecting the road win in early December by a score of 68-65.
 
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