BELMONT, N.C. – Peyton Nation matched her season-high scoring total and Belmont Abbey used a strong scoring burst in the second half en route to a 67-36 victory over North Greenville Wednesday evening at the Wheeler Center.
 
For the second time in three games, Nation finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and a pair of assists and steals. Cate Schieber and Catherine Hendershott also finished in double figures scoring with 11 each for the Crusaders. Schieber also added four steals for the Abbey in the victory.
 
Belmont Abbey started the second half on a 14-0 run and did not look back as the team extended its winning streak to five games.
 
The Abbey is now 10-5 overall and 4-1 in the conference. North Greenville is now 9-5 overall and 3-4 in league play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• North Greenville jumped out to an early 8-3 lead before Belmont Abbey responded with an 11-3 run to close the first quarter.
• Belmont Abbey had a pair of 6-0 runs in the second quarter, including one over the final three minutes of the half to take a six-point lead.
• The Abbey broke the game open with a 24-point third quarter and held North Greenville to just seven points in the period. That tied for the fewest points allowed in the third quarter this season.
• 11 of the 13 Crusaders who saw game action scored in the contest.
• Belmont Abbey's largest lead of the contest was 33 points.
• The 36 points scored by NGU is the fewest points allowed by Belmont Abbey this season. The Crusaders held opponents under 40 points five times last season.
• Riley James led the Crusaders with six of the team's 14 assists on the evening.
• Belmont Abbey out-rebounded North Greenville 42-25 in the contest.

 
UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will wrap up a three-game home stand against UNC Pembroke at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Wheeler Center.
• Both teams are regionally ranked in the latest rankings at No. 10 (BAC) and No. 8 (UNCP).
• Saturday's game will be a rematch of the 2023 Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship game.