BELMONT, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team used a fast start in the first quarter to extend its win streak to 14 games with a 64-48 victory over King in a Northwest Division contest Wednesday evening at the Wheeler Center.
 
The 14-game winning streak is the second-longest in the country this season, only behind Cal-State Dominguez Hills with 19.
 
The Crusaders opened the game on a 16-3 run and had three Crusaders finish in double figures scoring.  
 
Peyton Nation led the Abbey with a game-high 15 points, seven rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists. Abigail Crain added 14 points and five assists while Riley James had 13 points with six rebounds and five assists.
 
With the win, Belmont Abbey is now 16-2 overall and 10-0 in Conference Carolinas play. Additionally, the Crusaders are now 4-0 in Northwest Division play. King is now 8-9 overall, 6-4 in the league and 2-2 in the division.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The 16-3 run to open the game was highlighted by seven early points from James during that stretch.
• Leigha Dennison made a three to open the second quarter for Belmont Abbey to extend the lead to 19-7.
• Nation added layups on consecutive possessions later in the quarter and Belmont Abbey took a 31-20 lead into halftime.
• King got back within seven points with a 6-0 run in the third quarter but the Abbey responded with an 8-3 run to get the lead back to 12.
• Belmont Abbey closed the third quarter with a pair of three points from Madison Lusk and Peyton Nation for a 15-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
• A 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter gave the Crusaders an 18-point advantage, their largest of the game.
• Belmont Abbey committed just six turnovers on the night, a season low.
• The Crusaders finished with 16 assists on the night. It is the 10th time this year that the team has recorded double-digit assists.
• Cate Schieber finished with three steals to tie with Nation for the team lead.
• Belmont Abbey finished with 18 points off 12 King turnovers.
• Crain moved up to No. 13 in program history in career scoring with 1,305 points, passing Deidrea Gibson (1,296).  
• It is the 17th consecutive win at home for Belmont Abbey dating back to last season.

 
UP NEXT

• The Crusaders head on the road for a key Conference Carolinas matchup at Chowan at 2 p.m. Saturday in Murfreesboro, N.C.
• It is the second time in the last four games that the Abbey faces off against a team that received votes nationally in the WBCA poll.