Leading by just one point with 1:48 left, the Belmont Abbey women's basketball team scored six of the last eight points of the game, including the final four in the last 32 seconds, to seal a 62-57 win over the visiting Virginia State Trojans this evening at the Wheeler Center. The Abbey moves to 2-1, while Virginia State drops to 1-3.

Neither team led by more than six points in the game, as the Crusaders largest lead was six points with 2:24 to go in the first half, and Trojan's highest advantage was five with 17:10 to go in the contest.

After a successful jumper by Virginia State's Yaschica Blackney with 2:58 to go cut the Abbey lead to just one, the two teams traded baskets before the Crusaders extended their lead to three points on two free throws from Kelsey Long with 1:14 to go.

13 seconds later, Jasmine Stewart dropped a basket to close the lead back to one, but the Trojans did not score again. Melisa Foures pushed the lead back to three with a jumper from the free throw line, and Virginia State missed a layup and was called for a foul on its ensuing possession. Long sank both free throws, her 18th and 19th points of the night, with four ticks left, to seal the win.

Long's 19 points led all scorers as she finished five of ten shooting from the field with four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 35 minutes. Foures added 10 on three of eight shooting with three assists and a steal in 35 minutes. The Abbey shot 41.3 percent (19-46) from the floor. It led 27-25 at the half.

Mariame Sylla led the Trojans with 12 points on six of ten shooting, with six rebounds, four on the offensive glass, three blocked shots and a steal in 25 minutes. Virginia State shot 39.7 percent (23-58) from the floor, but was just three of 16 from three point range.