BELMONT, N.C. — Riley James reached a season-high scoring for Belmont Abbey as the Crusaders defeated Lees-McRae 72-40 in a Conference Carolinas contest Tuesday evening at the Wheeler Center. James finished with 19 points and added six assists as the Abbey won its eighth straight home game and 13 of its last 14 overall.

Abigail Crain recorded her second straight double-double and had 15 points along with 11 rebounds. She also added three steals and a blocked shot. Catherine Hendershott and Cate Schieber added 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Belmont Abbey improves to 18-6 overall, 12-2 in Conference Carolinas play and 4-1 in the Northwest Division. Lees-McRae is now 2-17 overall, 1-13 in the league and 1-3 in division play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Crusaders got off to a fast start with a 9-0 run in the first 3:10 of the game.
• After the Bobcats made a pair of three-pointers to make it 9-6, Belmont Abbey went on a 17-1 run to close the quarter.
• Hendershott finished with 10 points in the first quarter.
• Belmont Abbey led by as many as 21 points in the first half.
• The Crusaders got off to a fast start at halftime with a 10-2 run that included a pair of 3-pointers from Schieber.
• Since the calendar turned to 2024, Belmont Abbey has held opponents to 40 points or fewer four times.
• The Crusaders out-rebounded the Bobcats 44-29 including a game-high 12 from Janiah Shular. Shular also added two blocked shots.
• Belmont Abbey finished with 34 points in the paint and had 23 points off turnovers in the win.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will play three of their final four games of the regular season on the road starting Saturday at Barton at 2 p.m. in Wilson, North Carolina.
• Belmont Abbey defeated Barton 83-50 in the Conference Carolinas opener on December 2, 2023 at home earlier this season.
• Belmont Abbey's final home game of the regular season will be next Wednesday against King at 5 p.m. at the Wheeler Center.