BELMONT, N.C. – Four Belmont Abbey women's basketball finished in double figures scoring but a 16-0 run from Francis Marion to begin the second half proved to be the difference as the Patriots earned a 73-64 victory over the Crusaders in Conference Carolinas women's basketball action Saturday at the Wheeler Center.
 
The Abbey had its first loss of the season in conference play and moved to 17-4 overall and 14-1 in the league. The loss also ended the 15-game winning streak for the Crusaders. Francis Marion improved to 15-6, 13-2.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Taylor Stelley led the Crusaders with 17 points, including four three-pointers. She also led the team with three steals.
• Cate Schieber made four three-pointers en route to her 16 points in her first career home start.
• Catherine Hendershott and Abigail Crain had 12 and 10 points for The Abbey, respectively. Hendershott also led the team with five rebounds.
• After taking a five-point lead in the first quarter, Belmont Abbey led by as many as 12 points and took that lead into halftime.
• The Crusaders shot 54.5 percent from the field in the first half.
• The Patriots took the lead with a 16-0 scoring run to begin the second half.
• Riley James led The Abbey with five assists as part of the team's total of 14.
• Each team had 31 rebounds in the contest.
• Belmont Abbey was held in check offensively in the second half with a 24.3 shooting percentage in the second half.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders stay at home to face King at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Wheeler Center.
• Belmont Abbey defeated the Tornado 76-50 on Jan. 18 in Bristol, Tennessee.