FLORENCE, S.C. – The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team earned its second straight conference road victory with a 71-64 victory over Francis Marion Saturday in a Conference Carolinas contest at the Smith University Center.
 
Belmont Abbey had four scorers finish in double figures, including a 22-point effort from Abigail Crain to lead all scorers.
 
Taylor Stelley was one assist short of a double-double, finishing with 19 points, nine assists and four rebounds. Catherine Hendershott finished with a season-high 18 points to go with six rebounds while Katie Bischoping had 10 points and six rebounds.
 
Belmont Abbey is now 4-3 overall on the season and 3-0 in the conference. Francis Marion falls to 2-6 overall, 1-2 in league play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stelley provided the early offensive spark with seven points in the first quarter.
Belmont Abbey followed that up with one of its best offensive quarters of the season with 24 points in the period and shooting 60% from the floor.
The 40 points in the first half was a season high for the Crusaders.
Crain, Hendershott and Stelley all reached double figures by halftime.
Crain and Stelley accounted for 10 of the 14 points for Belmont Abbey in the third quarter.
After Francis Marion took the lead early in the fourth quarter, Riley James tied the game at 56-56 with a jump shot. Belmont Abbey did not trail the rest of the game.
Belmont Abbey finished with 17 assists, matching a season high from the contest against Converse back on Nov. 22.
The Crusaders were able to capitalize in transition by outscoring the Patriots 16-2 on the fast break.
Crain and Ricky Lesenyego had two steals each to lead the Crusaders. 
 
UP NEXT
Belmont Abbey returns home to host Lees-McRae at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Wheeler Center.