WINGATE, N.C. – The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team jumped out to a big lead in the second half before holding on for a 62-59 victory over Wingate Friday afternoon at Cuddy Arena in a game featuring two regionally-ranked teams.
The Crusaders were ranked No. 8 in the latest D2SIDA Southeast Regional Poll prior to Christmas while the Bulldogs were ranked fourth. The win is the fifth straight victory for Belmont Abbey as the team finishes 4-0 in December.
Abigail Crain led the Crusaders with a team-high 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals, three assists and a blocked hot.
Cate Scheiber added 15 points off the bench for The Abbey while
Taylor Stelley had 13.
Belmont Abbey is now 7-3 overall while Wingate is 8-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crusaders were able to overcome an early 9-2 deficit in the opening quarter to take a 20-19 lead through the first 10 minutes.
- The Abbey took its first lead with a 3-pointer by Catherine Hendershott with 4:09 left in the opening quarter. Hendershott finished with six points and a team-best 11 rebounds.
- The 11 rebounds are a season high for Hendershott.
- Belmont Abbey's largest lead was 12 at 48-36 with 4:55 left in the third quarter.
- The Crusaders shot 46.1 percent from the field in the first half.
- Belmont Abbey forced 10 steals for its third straight game of double digit steals.
- After Wingate took the lead in the fourth quarter, a 3-pointer by Scheiber gave the Crusaders a 53-52 lead with 6:42 remaining.
- A Ricky Lesenyego layup with 4:37 left gave Belmont Abbey a 58-57 lead. It would be the final lead change of the game.
- Crain and Stelley each hit free throws in the final minute and the Crusaders held off the Bulldogs for the win.
UP NEXT
Belmont Abbey returns home for its first game of 2023 with a contest against Carson-Newman at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Wheeler Center.
