Belmont Abbey senior guard Courtney Naquin led all scorers with 17 points as the Crusaders women's basketball team earned its third-straight win with a 61-45 victory over the visiting Lees-McRae Lady Bobcats this evening at the Wheeler Center. The Abbey moves to 9-7 overall and 7-4 in Conference Carolinas, while Lees-McRae slips to 2-13 overall and 2-9 in Conference Carolinas.

The Abbey, which shot 39 percent from the floor, was led by Naquin's 17 points and Shayla Jackson had 16 points. Jackson and Asha Hardaway collected six rebounds. Naquin finished with five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Lees-McRae shot 37 percent as Colette Montgomery was 6-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the free throw line to finish with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Following her was Jessica Blair with seven points and Janina Thurau with six points. Lauren Casey had a team-high four assists.

The Abbey took 5-2 lead, but a Thurau three tied the game at five with 16:19 left in the half. From there the Crusaders went on a 17-2 run to take a 12-point lead, 19-7, with just over ten minutes to play in the half.

Candace Flowers knocked down a three for the Bobcats with 43 seconds on the clock to cut the lead to six, but The Abbey responded with a three from Naquin to take a 31-22 lead into the half.

Coming out of the locker rooms, the Crusaders extended the lead to 14, 36-22, on Kelsey Daniel three with 18:11 left in the half.

A Montgomery basket pulled the Lady Bobcat within eight, 42-34, with 11:46 to play, but The Abbey had the lead back to 14, 52-38, five minutes later.

The Crusaders took their largest lead of the game, 61-42, at the 1:47 mark and finished the game with a 61-45 win.

Lees-McRae committed 23 turnovers compared to 15 turnovers for Belmont Abbey. The Abbey scored 21 points off the Lees-McRae turnovers.