HICKORY, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's basketball team (6-18, 5-18) was on the road at Lenoir-Rhyne University this evening where they fell 77-61 to the Bears.
Kalaya Hall led the Royals with 17 points while
Malea Garrison added 14 points.
Taylor Stevens scored 10 points as
Jori Wilks and
Kennedy Fuller chipped in with nine and seven points, respectively.
After knocking down the first bucket of the game, Queens found themselves trailing 8-3 at 5:51. Five straight points from Stevens would close the gap to one, 11-10, before the Bears pulled back in front by four. Queens then ended the quarter on jumpers from Wilks and Hall to knot the game at 15-15 heading into the second.
Queens' Hall scored quickly in the second quarter to put the Royals in front, but neither team would score again until 6:23 when Alyssa Wagner knocked down a three pointer to put Lenoir-Rhyne back on top, 18-17. The Royals would tie the game up two more times and take the lead once more in the period before the Bears took over on a jumper from Brandi Hudson. They went on to take a 32-31 lead at the half.
A layup from Garrison early in the third returned control of the game to the Royals, but Queens's offense would go cold in the quarter as the Bears used a 13-0 spurt to runaway with tonight's game. Lenoir-Rhyne's lead grew to as much as 20 points before the quarter ended. The Royals would shrink the margin to nine in the fourth quarter but that was as close as they would get before the Bears pulled out the 16-point victory.
Blaikley Crooks led the Bears with 18 points while Emily Harman added 17 points. Alyssa Wagner scored 16 points and Hudson totaled 12 points.
Queens will wrap its season at home on Saturday, Feb. 26 welcoming No. 22 Wingate to Curry Arena. The Senior Day game will tip off at 2 p.m.
Be sure to follow the Royals on Twitter and Instagram @queenswbb to stay up to date on all the latest news surrounding the women's basketball program. Additionally, follow Queens Athletics on all social media platforms by searching @QueensAthletics.
