BELMONT, N.C. – The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team came away with its second straight home victory as the Crusaders defeated Francis Marion 74-65 in Conference Carolinas play Tuesday at the Wheeler Center.
 
Taylor Stelley led The Abbey with a season-high 20 points while Brittany Autry finished with 19 points and eight rebounds in the victory.
 
The Crusaders moved to 18-8 overall and 16-6 in league play. The Patriots are 14-11 overall and 13-10 in the conference.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After falling behind 4-0 early, the Crusaders picked up the pace offensively thanks to a 10-2 run in the first quarter.
• Taylor Stelley accounted for the first five points of that run, including a 3-pointer at the 6:52 mark of the first quarter. Belmont Abbey led 14-9 after the first 10 minutes.
• The Crusaders were able to push their lead up to 29-22 at the half thanks to a 7-2 stretch midway through the first half.
• Autry and Stelley scored the first five points of the second half for Belmont Abbey to push the lead to 12 at 34-22. It was the largest lead for the Crusaders in the contest.
• Autry scored 15 of her 19 points in the contest after halftime.
• Belmont Abbey also had one of its best nights shooting from the free throw line, finishing 17-of-19 for the charity stripe.
• The Patriots got within four points in the fourth quarter but a pair of key 3-pointers from Stelley and Jo Snow proved to be enough to keep Francis Marion in check.
• Stelley knocked down four free throws to seal the game for The Abbey.
• Peyton Nation stepped up off the bench for the Crusaders by finishing with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.

 
UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey closes the regular season with a home game against Southern Wesleyan at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Wheeler Center.
• The Crusaders defeated the Warriors 82-55 in the first meeting on Feb. 1 in Central, S.C.