Belmont Abbey sophomore forward Melisa Foures led all scorers with 17 points as the Crusaders women's basketball team fought off a late Lees-McRae charge to earn a 59-50 win over the Lady Bobcats tonight at the Wheeler Center. The win moves the Abbey's record to 10-10 overall and 6-5 in Conference Carolinas, while Lees-McRae drops to 6-11 overall and 2-9 in Conference Carolinas.

Foures led an offense that shot 34.9 percent (22-63) from the floor with 17 points on seven of 13 shooting with eight rebounds. Paula Regalado added 13 points on four of eight shooting with four assists. Caitlyn Ranson added 11, all in the first half. She finished four of ten from the field and handed out four assists to go along with six rebounds. Kelsey Long added seven points and six boards as the Abbey won the rebounding battle by a 47-41 count.

Lees-McRae was led by Icey Patterson's 13 points, while DeAnna Waters and Paige Whittaker both added 12. Lees-McRae shot 31.7 percent (20-63) from the field.

The Crusaders trailed only once, 11-9 with 13:57 to go, but an 18-4 Abbey run, fueled by three Ranson trifectas, put the Abbey ahead to stay, moving the lead to 27-15 with 5:34 to go. The Crusaders would lead 29-19 at the half.

Belmont Abbey opened the second half on an 11-4 run to widen the cushion to 17 points with 13:37 to go. It rose to as high as 21 twice, coming on baskets from Foures and Candace Fox, the last of which made the score 50-29 with 6:48 left.

Lees-McRae battled back, chopping the lead down to just nine with 25 seconds left on a traditional three-point play by Patterson, but the Crusaders ran out the clock to preserve the 59-50 win.