HICKORY, N.C. — Peyton Nation, Abigail Crain and Valeria Batista all finished with strong afternoons as the Belmont Abbey women's basketball team defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 77-49 Saturday afternoon at Shuford Arena.
 
The Crusaders got a combined 53 points between the trio with Nation earning a second double-double in as many games as she had a career-high 21 points to go with 11 rebounds and five steals.
 
Crain added 19 points and five assists in the win while Batista finished with a career-high 13 points with four rebounds and two assists. Additionally, the Crusaders shot a season-best 53.6 percent from the field.
 
Belmont Abbey is now 8-2 overall after winning its sixth straight game. Lenoir-Rhyne is now 4-6 on the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Belmont Abbey got off to a fast start with an 11-2 run to begin the contest.
• Nation, Crain and Batista accounted for 15 of the 21 points of the opening quarter along with a pair of 3-pointers from Cate Schieber.
• The Crusaders gained further separation with a 13-2 run in the second quarter. Belmont Abbey led by as many as 18 points in the first half and led by 15 at the break.
• An 8-1 in the third quarter further solidified the lead.
• The Crusaders' largest lead of the contest was 30 points late in the contest.
• The 42 first-half points matched a season high set against Southern Wesleyan two weeks ago.
• The 18 assists also matched a season-high also set against Southern Wesleyan.
• Along with Crain, Riley James matched a team-best with five assists. James also had the other blocked shot for the Abbey
• Belmont Abbey had a 31-15 rebounding advantage over the Bears in the contest.

 
UP NEXT

• The Crusaders return home for their final two home games before Christmas.
• The Abbey hosts Young Harris at 5 p.m. Tuesday followed by a 2 p.m. contest against USC Aiken.