The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team fell to the visiting Brevard College Tornados by a 73-55 score this evening at the Wheeler Center in the season opener for both teams. Belmont Abbey led 31-30 at the half, but Brevard shot 60 percent (18-30) from the floor in the second half as it outscored the Crusaders 43-24 to pull away. Paula Regalado posted a double double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Brevard blitzed out to a 25-14 lead with 8:08 to go in the half before the Crusaders melted the lead down using a 12-0 run to grab a 25-23 lead with four minutes to go. After two Brevard free throws deadlocked the game at 28 with 2:14 to play, a traditional three point play by Kelsey Long surged the Crusaders ahead 31-28, but a layup by Holli Flippo trimmed the halftime deficit to one at the break.

The Tornados began its torrid second half shooting effort by bolting out on a 12-3 run as they made their first six shots from the field. The advantage grew to as high as 22 points, and the Crusaders closed the game by scoring the final four points to provide the final score.

Flippo led all players with 23 points in a substitution role. Her final line was eight of 12 from the field, two of five from three point range and five of six from the charity stripe. She added six rebounds, two assists and a steal in 27 minutes. Michela Watkins added 16 points and seven steals, and Anna Schlobohm added 13 points on six of eight shooting with four steals. Brevard shot 47.5 percent (28-59) from the field, including its aforementioned 60 percent effort in the final 20 minutes.

Regalado's 16 points was a game-high, as she sank four of six from the field and eight of nine from the free throw line. Six of her 11 rebounds were on the offensive glass as the Abbey outrebounded Brevard 36-27. Freshman Caitlyn Ranson added 11 points and six rebounds. The Crusaders shot 39.5 percent (17-43) from the floor and were undone by 30 turnovers.