ANDERSON, S.C. – The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team returned to the court for its first contest in a week as the Crusaders took on Anderson Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.
 
Abigail Crain scored a season-high 26 points but it was the Trojans who came away with the 71-63 victory over the Crusaders. The contest was a matchup of regionally ranked opponents with the Trojans ranked No. 4 and the Crusaders ranked No. 9. 

Catherine Hendershott was the other Crusader in double figures with 12 while Cate Schieber and Peyton Nation had 9 each for The Abbey.
 
Belmont Abbey is now 5-4 on the season while Anderson is 7-1 overall.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Anderson jumped out to an early 7-0 lead but the Crusaders were able to cut the deficit down to one late in the first quarter.
• Belmont Abbey trailed by as many as 15 points in the second quarter before The Abbey closed the half on a 10-2 run. Hendershott scored eight points in the quarter.
• Crain scored 13 of the 19 points Belmont Abbey tallied in the third quarter. The team got back within three thanks to a 9-0 run to end the period.
• Schieber made two of her 3-pointers in the final quarter for The Abbey.
• The Crusaders outrebounded the Trojans 40-38. 
• Nation led the team with seven rebounds while Schieber and Hendershott added six each.
• Belmont Abbey finished with 21 turnovers compared to 10 for Anderson.
• Anderson had four finish in double figures led by 17 from Brittney Stafford.
• Nelilah Wilson had a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Trojans.

 
UP NEXT

• The Crusaders return home to face Converse at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Wheeler Center.
• Wednesday's contest will mark the first of three straight home games to close out 2023.