WILSON, N.C. — Peyton Nation and Abigail Crain both recorded double-doubles and held an opponent under 40 points for the second straight game as the No. 24 Crusaders defeated Barton 60-34 Saturday afternoon at Wilson Gymnasium.
 
The Crusaders were playing their first game in two weeks and after breaking through the Top 25 of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll earlier this week.
 
Nation finished with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds while Crain added 13 points and 10 rebounds to her credit as both players recorded their third double-doubles this season.
 
Additionally, the Crusaders finished with a season-high 51 rebounds, including 40 on the defensive side.
 
It is the ninth straight win for Belmont Abbey, who improves to 11-2 overall and 5-0 in Conference Carolinas play. Barton is now 7-7 overall and 3-3 in the league.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first field goal from the Crusaders came on a Valeria Batista layup with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
• Cate Schieber made the first of three 3-pointers in the first quarter to give Belmont Abbey an 8-6 lead.
• The Abbey held Barton to just four points in the second quarter and used a 9-0 run to take a 27-19 lead into halftime.
• Nation and Crain combined to account for the first nine points of the third quarter.
• A 20-point fourth quarter helped the Crusaders seal the win.
• Riley James had seven points and a game-high six assists in the win.
• The Crusader defense held Barton to just 19.4 percent shooting from the field.
• The 51 rebounds are a season high for the Abbey.
• It is the 10th time under Kim Lusk that the Crusaders have held an opponent under 40 points over the last two-plus seasons.

 
UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey heads back on the road for a Northwest Division contest at Converse starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Spartanburg, S.C.
• The Crusaders will then return home to face Emmanuel at 2 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Wheeler Center.