The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team outscored Erskine 15-9in the final nine minutes after Flying Fleet took a two point lead as the Crusaders won their third game in the last four tries with a 47-44 road win this afternoon at Belk Gym. Belmont Abbey moves to 6-5 overall and 5-2 in Conference Carolinas, while Erskine remains winless at 0-12 overall and 0-7 in league play.

Caitlyn Ranson tied the game for the sixth and final time with a three-pointer at the 9:41 mark, but Erskine's Tara Potter answered with a jumper on the Fleet's next possession to put them on top for what turned out to be the final time. On the Abbey's next trip down the floor, Kelsey Long drained a short jumper to put the Crusaders ahead to stay.

After a short jumper by Jana Dixon, Belmont Abbey scored the next five points to move ahead by six, as Alyx Ingram netted a jumper and Ranson again connected on a three-pointer, the final three of her game-high 16 points.

Erskine did not go away, as Tori Whittenburg countered with a three-pointer, and after an Abbey turnover, Sha'Niqua Whitley chopped the lead down to just one with a jumper with 4:47 left, but that is as close as Erskine would get.

Ingram moved the lead back to three on the Abbey's next possession with a jumper to push the lead to 45-42 with 4:25 to go. From there, the two teams would go scoreless for the next 2:24 as six shots were missed by the two teams.

Candace Fox broke the drought with a jumper at the 2:01 mark to increase the lead to five at 47-42, which would be the final Abbey points of the afternoon.

Adrienne Bannerman was fouled on Erskine's next trip, and her two free throws with 1:44 to go closed the lead to 47-44. Erskine had one last chance to tie the game.

With 47 seconds left, Long missed a jumper that Potter rebounded. After an Abbey foul on the rebound, Erskine worked the clock down to 23 seconds and used a timeout.

After the timeout, Erskine ran the clock down to eight seconds, where Whitley attempted to tie the game with a three-pointer. The shot missed, Long grabbed the rebound and ran out the clock to seal the victory.

Ranson led all players with 16 points on five of 11 shooting, including four of eight from three point range. She was the only Crusader to reach double figures as the Abbey shot 29 percent (18-61) from the field. Melisa Foures pulled down nine rebounds and Long finished with six.

Erskine shot 32 percent (18-55) as Bannerman led the Fleet with 14 points. Potter led all players with 13 rebounds. Erskine converted just three of 20 from three-point range.