OPENING TIP
Score: Queens 51 | N.C. Central 61
Records: Queens (5–5) | Carolina (2-9)
Location: Curry Arena (Charlotte, N.C.)

THE SHORT STORY
Queens battled throughout a tightly contested nonconference matchup but fell 61–51 to N.C. Central on Wednesday afternoon at Curry Arena. The game featured eight lead changes and remained within one possession late in the third quarter before the Eagles pulled away with a strong fourth-quarter stretch.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Brenae Jones-Grant led Queens with 11 points and seven rebounds, scoring in three quarters.
• Dayuna Colvin added 10 points, knocking down five of six free throws while logging 38 minutes.
• Jermany Mapp finished with nine points, five rebounds, and two assists.
• Ana Barreto chipped in nine points, three assists, and two rebounds.
• Hannah Hicks posted eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds, anchoring the Royals on the glass.
• Queens shot 26.4 percent from the field and 26.1 percent from three, while converting 17 of 21 free throws (81.0 percent).

NOTABLE MOMENTS

• Queens started the game in dominant fashion, with Brenae Jones-Grant and Hannah Hicks combining for three offensive rebounds in the first four and a half minutes of action to hold a 12-3 lead at the first media timeout.
• As the clock wound down in the first quarter Alyssa Lewis stole the ball off a Bruins player and then threw a perfectly placed bounce pass in transition to give Dayuna Colvin an easy layup, granting the Royals a 20-10 lead heading into the second period.
• Queens began to heat up from the outside during the second quarter as Ana Baretto drilled two three-pointers in the span of less than a minute, the next play Alyssa Lewis capitalized on poor transition defense, going coast to coast for a layup to give the Royals a 38-12 lead.
• The Royals could do no wrong in the second quarter, shooting a scorching 59 percent from the field which ignited a 26-0 run over the final eight minutes to hold a 46-12 lead at halftime.
• Carolina began to find some offensive flow in the 3rd quarter, scoring seven points in the first three and a half minutes, but the Royals offense matched their every blow, managing to keep a commanding 85 to 26 lead heading into the final quarter.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Queens 51 points marked their second-lowest scoring output of the season, trailing only the game at James Madison.
• Queens went 17-for-21 at the free throw line (81.0 percent), their second-best free throw percentage of the year.
• The Royals recorded 42 rebounds, marking their sixth game this season with 40 or more boards.

NEXT UP
Queens returns to action on Saturday, December 20 at 2 p.m., hosting USC-Upstate for the annual Ugly Christmas Sweater game at Curry Arena.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow Queens Women's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram for news and updates throughout the season. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on social media to stay up to date on all the Royals sports in action.