Belmont Abbey guard Kelsey Long and forward Paula Regalado scored 13 points apiece as the Crusaders women's basketball team won its third-straight game with a 68-35 win at Converse this evening. The win moves the Abbey's record to 7-7 overall and 3-2 in Conference Carolinas, while Converse drops to 1-13 overall and 1-4 in Conference Carolinas.

After Converse scored the first five points of the contest, the Abbey embarked on a 14-0 run to claim a lead it would never relinquish. Long and Melisa Foures combined to score all 14 of those points, as Long scored seven of her 13 points during the run. The Crusaders moved their lead to as many as 11 and after Converse dropped it to nine at 24-15 with eight minutes to go, the Abbey outscored Converse 22-9 the rest of the half to carry a 46-24 lead into the break.

The second half was all Belmont Abbey, as its defense held Converse scoreless for the first 11:21 into the half. Converse scored just 11 points in the final 20 minutes. The Crusaders built their lead to as high as 39 points as they went on to win by 33.

Belmont Abbey shot 40 percent (26-65) from the floor as Regalado finished four of six from the field with two rebounds and three steals in just 13 minutes. Long was six of 13 with seven rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes. Foures added 11 points with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Brittaney Rice handed out five assists and McKenzi Edwards recorded four. All but three Crusaders recorded at least two points.