MARS HILL, N.C. — Riley James finished with a game-high 15 points while Janiah Shular and Cate Schieber finished in double figures scoring as the Belmont Abbey women's basketball team defeated Emory & Henry 60-49 Saturday afternoon at Stanford Gymnasium.

James also finished with four assists and two steals in the contest as the Crusaders moved to 1-1 following the conclusion of the Conference Carolinas/South Atlantic Conference challenge.

Shular finished with 13 points, six rebounds and a blocked shot while Schieber made three 3-pointers as part of her 11 points.

Emory & Henry is also 1-1 following Saturday's contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Belmont Abbey got off to a good start with a 7-2 run to begin the contest.
• The Crusaders book-ended the quarter with a 10-4 run thanks to eight points from James.
• Shular accounted for five of the final eight points in the second quarter for the Crusaders.
• The Crusaders shot an impressive 72.2 percent from the field in the first half.
• Belmont Abbey led by as many as 22 points in the second half highlighted by Ella Stakem's 3-pointer with 8:06 remaining.
• Abigail Crain finished with a team-best seven rebounds to go with eight points.
• Peyton Nation also had eight points and had a blocked shot and a steal.
• The Crusaders had a 34-27 rebounding advantage over the Wasps.
• Alexandra Falesto and Sydney Martin also made their Crusader debuts in the contest on Saturday.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will head on the road next weekend for a pair of contests at Anderson University as part of the AU Classic.
• Belmont Abbey faces Georgia Southwestern at 5 p.m. Friday followed by a contest against host Anderson at 3 p.m. Saturday.