SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Taylor Stelley finished with a game-high 19 points and two other Crusaders reached double figures scoring as top-seeded Belmont Abbey pulled away for a 72-45 win over No. 5 seed Chowan in the semifinals of the Atlantic Casualty Insurance Conference Carolinas Tournament Saturday afternoon at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.

With the win, the Crusaders move to 23-4 on the season and advance to the championship game Sunday against the winner of No. 3 seed UNC Pembroke and No. 2 seed Francis Marion.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Crusaders got off to a strong start in the first quarter by starting the game on a 7-0 run. The Abbey scored 26 points by making 11 of its first 16 shots from the field.
• Belmont Abbey extended its lead to 10 at the half with a jump shot by Riley James in the final seconds of the first half to take a 39-29 lead.
• The Crusaders locked down defensively by allowing just 16 points in the second half to the Hawks.
• Belmont Abbey finished with 13 steals in the win. Cate Schieber led the team with four steals while Peyton Nation had three.
• Schieber also went 5 of 11 from 3-point range and finished with 15 points.
• Crain was the team's second leading scorer
• Nation led the team with nine rebounds and had six points for the Crusaders.
• Belmont Abbey held a 38-34 advantage in rebounds over Chowan.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will face No. 3 seed UNC Pembroke in the championship game tomorrow at 1 p.m. Sunday from Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
• The Braves defeated No. 2 seed Francis Marion 72-68 in overtime in the other semifinal.
• Belmont Abbey defeated UNC Pembroke 55-51 in the regular season finale back on Feb. 22.
• The winner of tomorrow's game will earn an automatic bid to the Division II Tournament. The selection show will be 10:30 p.m. Sunday night.