SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Brittany Autry scored 18 points and the Belmont Abbey women's basketball team wrapped up its regular season with a 69-63 win at Converse this evening.  The win clinches the #1 seed for Belmont Abbey in the Conference Carolinas tournament.  The Abbey finishes with a 19-2 record, including a 15-1 record against Conference Carolinas opponents.  Converse finished its season with a 6-11 record, with a 5-11 conference mark.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The teams went back and forth in the first, with neither team building a lead bigger than three until the last minute of the quarter, when Converse led 18-13
• The second quarter was all Abbey.  The Crusaders opened the period with an 8-0 run to take a 21-18 lead.  Then on the defensive side, BAC gave up just one field goal over the last six minutes of the quarter
• Autry scored five points in the last 2:11, and the Crusaders held a 33-27 lead at halftime
• Hannah Roney got the scoring started in the third.  Two free throws by Irelynn Davisson gave The Abbey an 11-point lead, its largest of the contest
• Keyanna Spivey nailed two free throws late to give the Crusaders a 49-45 lead heading into the final period
• A 3-point basket by Davisson in the fourth put The Abbey on front by 10 with 5:17 to play.  From there, BAC did not let the lead get below five, and sealed the 69-63 victory
• On the night, Autry led the Crusaders with a game-high 18 points and seven rebounds
• Allie Downing finished with 13 points and seven boards

UP NEXT

Belmont Abbey will host the no. 8 seed Lees-McRae in the first round of the Conference Carolinas tournament on Tuesday, March 2.  Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.