CHARLOTTE, N.C - The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team improved to 4-7 on the season and 3-7 in South Atlantic Conference play this evening after defeating Newberry College (2-11, 2-8 SAC), by a score of 75-58. The 17-point win marks the largest margin of victory for Queens in the past two seasons.
 
Freshman forward Finley Lefevers led the Royals with a career-high 16 points while also totaling seven rebounds. Kalaya Hall added 15 points and six rebounds and Kristy Hamze totaled 13 points. Taylor Stevens tallied 12 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and five steals while Kiana Barkhoff recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five blocks. Malea Garrison also totaled 10 rebounds.
 
The Royals got off to a hot start jumping out to a 15-2 lead in tonight's opening quarter. A three-pointer from Lefevers with 1:45 would put them in front 25-8 before they eventually closed the period ahead 26-11.
 
A 6-0 spurt early in the second increased the margin to 19, 32-13, with 6:54 to play. The Wolves were then able to pull within 14 following back-to-back buckets with less than four minutes to play, but a 6-0 run to close the half allowed the Royals to take a 20-point lead into the halftime break, 43-23.
 
Queens saw its largest lead of the night early in the third on a Hamze fastbreak jumper at 9:13 which put them in front 45-23. They then maintained at least a 14-point lead over the Wolves for the remainder of the game shooting over 40-percent in the second half of action.
 
The Royals outscored Newberry 46-28 in the paint this evening and totaled 29 fastbreak points compared to the Wolves' nine.
 
Giulia Bongiorno led the Wolves with 12 points while Tyla Stolberg totaled 10 points.
 
The Royals' game on Saturday at Limestone has been postponed due to COVID protocols. They will return to action on Jan. 12 when they host Anderson inside Curry Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
 
Be sure to follow the Royals on Instagram and Twitter @queenswbb for the latest news and updates on the women's basketball team.