Charging back from a deficit that reached as high as 18 points to pull within one point with under a minute left, the Belmont Abbey women's basketball team was unable to grab the lead as it fell to the visiting Barton Bulldogs this evening. Barton improves to 20-5 overall and 17-4 in Conference Carolinas, while the Abbey slips to 17-9 overall and 15-6 in Conference Carolinas.

Trailing 36-25 at the half after shooting just 30.4 percent, the Lady Crusaders shot 59.4 percent (19-32) in the final stanza as it outscored Barton 47-41 in the period. Forced to foul late, Barton hit all of its free throws and pulled away with the five point win.

Belmont Abbey shot 47.3 percent (26-55) from the field as Shayla Jackson led four Lady Crusaders in double figures with 18 points on nine of 14 shooting from the field. She added five rebounds, four assists and a steal. Kelsey Daniel posted 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal, as she sank all four of her field goal attempts and seven of her eight free throw attempts. Asha Hardaway also had 15 points on four of ten shooting, while handing out a pair of assists. Kala Nwachukwu came off the bench to score 12 points and tie for the game-high with eight rebounds.

Barton, which shot 44.8 percent (30-67) from the floor was led by Esty Flores's game-high 26 points on eight of 20 shooting, including a three for six effort from three-point range. She also had four rebounds and assist and a steal. Janetta Robinson and Destiny Hamlin both finished with 12 points, while Sara Fleming added 10. Robinson posted eight rebounds, six on the offensive glass. Jamila Johnson led all players with nine assists.