CENTRAL, S.C. - Allie Downing scored 22 points, helping The Abbey to a 67-59 victory against Southern Wesleyan University this afternoon.  With the win, Belmont Abbey moves to 12-5 on the year, with a 9-1 conference mark.  The Warriors are now 5-11 overall, and 4-6 in Conference Carolinas play.

Belmont Abbey went on a 7-0 run early in the contest, sparked by a Maria Kuhlman 3-pointer.  After that, Keyanna Spivey scored the next four points for the Crusaders.  Southern Wesleyan led at the end of the first quarter 18-11.

It only took The Abbey 21 seconds to score the first five points of the second.  The Crusader defense forced the Warriors into a 4:08 scoring drought, pulling The Abbey to within a point at 23-22.  With 3:07 left, a jump shot by Downing gave Belmont Abbey its first lead of the period, 28-26.  Defensively, the Crusaders only gave up one Warriors field goal in the last 5:05 of the quarter, and Belmont Abbey owned a 30-29 lead at halftime.  In the first half, Downing scored 10 points and pulled down three rebounds.

Downing got the Crusader offense started in the third, with a layup that gave The Abbey a 32-31 advantage.  Defensively, the Crusaders gave up just one Southern Wesleyan field goal over the first three minutes of the period.  Emry Tsitouris finished off the Crusader scoring in the third with a layup, and Southern Wesleyan had a 48-42 lead heading into the final quarter.

Spivey and Irelynn Davisson each sunk two free throws to give Belmont Abbey the first four points of the fourth and pulled the team to within a point at 48-47.  A 3-pointer by Kuhlman at the 6:46 mark put Belmont Abbey in front 51-50.  Later in the period a five-point spurt in 32 seconds gave The Abbey a 58-54 advantage.  The Crusaders then held the Warriors to one field goal in the last four minutes of the game and finished with the 67-59 victory.

On the day, Downing led Belmont Abbey's efforts with 22 points and seven rebounds.  Spivey chipped in 11 points with five boards, while Tsitouris pulled down 14 rebounds.  Briana Grier handed out seven assists and earned two steals.

Belmont Abbey will next face off against Limestone College on Tuesday, January 23.  That game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. in the Wheeler Center.  It will be the team's Raise the Red game.