BELMONT, N.C. – The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team put together a strong rally late as the Crusaders came away with a 65-59 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne in a Tuesday afternoon matinee at the Wheeler Center.
The Abbey trailed by five in the fourth quarter but closed the contest on a 14-3 run in the final 3:52 to secure the victory.
Abigail Crain led the Crusaders with 16 points, 12 of which were scored in the second half.
Cate Schieber had 15 points on 5-of-7 from 3-point range. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Crusaders, who are now 6-5 on the season.
Lenoir-Rhyne is now 7-4 on the season after Tuesday's result.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crusaders scored the first six points of the contest and held Lenoir-Rhyne without a field goal for the first six minutes.
- Schieber made two threes in the first quarter with Madison Lusk adding the other one to give Belmont Abbey a 15-11 lead.
- The Crusaders shot 60 percent from the field in the first half, a season-best for The Abbey. The team also led by as many as 12 points in the period.
- Riley James made her return to the lineup for the Crusaders, finishing with five points, three rebounds and two assists.
- Belmont Abbey scored the first five points of the second half but a 13-2 run by Lenoir-Rhyne brought the teams even. The Bears took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter.
- Catherine Hendershott accounted for the first five points of the final quarter for The Abbey. She finished with 11 points.
- From the midway point of the period, Crain made four field goals in the fourth quarter including a layup with 2:19 left to get the Crusaders within one.
- Belmont Abbey took the lead for good when Schieber made her fifth 3-pointer of the day with 1:29 left in the game.
- Making her first career start, Janiah Shular helped Belmont Abbey seal the win by making 5-of-6 from the free throw line to go with three defensive rebounds and a steal.
- Lenoir-Rhyne out-rebounded Belmont Abbey 33-32.
- The Crusaders shot 49 percent from the field, matching a season high. Belmont Abbey was also 8-of-15 from 3-point range, a season best percentage wise (53.3 percent).
UP NEXT
- The Crusaders are off through Christmas and return to action on December 30 at 2 p.m. against Wingate from the Wheeler Center.
- Belmont Abbey resumes Conference Carolinas play Jan. 3 at King.