The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team was eliminated from the 2012-13 Conference Carolinas Tournament with a 56-37 loss at the hands of the Barton Bulldogs this evening at Wilson Gymnasium. Barton, the second seed, advances to Friday's quarterfinal with a mark of 21-6, while the Abbey, the seventh seed, ends its season with a record of 12-15.

Barton shot 44 percent (24-54) from the field as Nyesha Willie led four Barton players in double figures with a game-high 14 points. Ashley Thornton added 12 and Shante Neal added 11.

The Crusaders shot just 29 percent (14-47) as McKenzie Owen led the way with 14 points. Morgan Midkiff added ten. Kelsey Long added five as she enters her senior year in 2013-14 with 937 career points.

Barton never trailed as it built a 16 point halftime lead at 34-18 as it shot 46 percent from the field, while the Abbey made just six of 21 from the floor (28 percent). It scored seven of the game's first nine points as the lead quickly moved into double figures and stayed there for the remainder of the contest.

The Bulldogs lead grew to as high as 23 points, but the Abbey scored seven of the last ten points to shrink the final edge to 19.