BELMONT, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey women's basketball put together a strong run in the fourth quarter and used it to capture a 55-46 win over No. 17/RV UNC Pembroke in the Conference Carolinas opener for the Crusaders Tuesday evening at the Wheeler Center.
 
Trailing 43-41 midway through the fourth quarter, the Crusaders closed the game on a 14-3 run over the final 5:19 to help secure the win. Riley James helped spark the run with a 3-pointer as part of her 13 points in the fourth quarter. She finished with a game-high 22 points to go with five assists, a steal and blocked shot.
 
Peyton Nation also finished in double figures with 14 points and eight rebounds as the Crusaders won their third straight game. It is also the third time this season that Belmont Abbey has defeated a ranked opponent.
 
With the win, Belmont Abbey is 5-2 overall and 1-0 in Conference Carolinas play. UNC Pembroke is 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the league.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Valeria Batista and Peyton Nation accounted for the first two baskets for Belmont Abbey.
• UNC Pembroke scored nine points in a 2:39 stretch to take a 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
• Abigail Crain accounted for the first two points of the second quarter for the Abbey. The Crusaders trailed 22-20 at the break.
• Belmont Abbey got off to a fast start in the second half with an 8-2 run highlighted by 3-pointers from James and Nation.
• Nation accounted for seven points in the third quarter as the Crusaders and Braves were tied at 33-33 at the half.
• James accounted for the first three field goals of the fourth quarter for the Abbey.
• Crain scored on a tip-in with just over four minutes remaining to make it a three-point game. She finished with a team-best eight rebounds along with Nation.
• After a pair of steals down the stretch, Cate Schieber made a 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Crusaders.
• Belmont Abbey finished with nine assists with five from James and three from Crain.
• Schieber finished with three of Belmont Abbey's seven steals.
• Crain and James each had a blocked shot and Belmont Abbey had a season low nine turnovers on the night.
• The Crusaders went 9-of-13 from the field in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders continue a three-game homestand with a contest against Southern Wesleyan at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Wheeler Center.
• Belmont Abbey plays four of its next five games at home to close the calendar year.