AIKEN, S.C. – The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team got its Thanksgiving week road trip off to a good start thanks to a 61-50 win over USC Aiken Tuesday evening at the USC Aiken Convocation Center.
 
The Crusaders surged ahead thanks in large part to a 30-point second quarter to take a 25-point lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
Abigail Crain led the Crusaders with a game-high 24 points while Cate Scheiber finished with 15 points in her first appearance of the season.
 
Belmont Abbey improved to 3-1 on the season and earned its first road win of the season. USC Aiken is 1-4 following Tuesday's result.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams were locked in a defensive battle early as the two teams made five field goals in the opening quarter.
• The Crusaders opened a sizeable lead thanks to an 8-0 run to begin the second quarter and closed it with a 21-5 run to end the half.
• Cate Schieber scored 15 points in her season debut, all of which came in the first half.
• Crain scored 14 of her 24 points after halftime.
• Peyton Nation made an impact on both ends of the floor, finishing with nine points, six rebounds, five steals and a blocked shot.
• Dearia Page scored eight points in her first career start for the Crusaders.
• After the Pacers got within 10 points midway through the fourth quarter, the Crusaders went on a 10-3 run to seal the game highlighted by a three-point play from Crain with 4:32 remaining in the contest.
• The Crusaders out-rebounded the Pacers 35-29 in the contest.
• Belmont Abbey had 10 steals highlighted by the five nation and two each from Schieber and Katie Story.
• Seven Crusaders recorded an assist in the win.

 
REGIONAL RANKINGS

• Earlier in the day, the Crusaders were ranked No. 9 in the newest D2CSC Southeast Regional poll.

 
UP NEXT

• The Crusaders continue their extended road trip with a pair of contests in Florida on Friday and Saturday.
• Belmont Abbey faces Rollins at 2 p.m. Friday in Winter Park followed by a matchup with Florida Southern at 4 p.m. Saturday.