BELMONT, N.C.— The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team used a third quarter surge and had three players in double figures as the Crusaders defeated Augusta 68-59 in nonconference play Saturday afternoon at the Wheeler Center.
Riley James finished with a season-high 18 points to go with five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a blocked shot.
Madison Lusk finished with 11 points with three 3-pointers while
Brielle George recorded her third straight double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The third quarter proved to be the difference for the Abbey, outscoring Augusta 23-7 and building a 23-point lead in the second half, its largest of the season.
The win marks the seventh straight for the Abbey, improving to 9-1 on the season. Augusta is now 6-4 overall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams exchanged five-point runs to start the game with Augusta taking a 10-5 lead.
- Lusk scored her first basket as the final field goal of the opening quarter to give Belmont Abbey a 16-15 lead.
- The game was tied at 24-all late in the first half but a 7-2 run highlighted by a George layup at the half gave the Crusaders a five-point lead.
- A 13-3 run to open the second half broke the game open in favor of the Crusaders and it was later followed by a pair of 3-pointers from Lusk for a 19-point advantage.
- Augusta looked to chip away with a 7-0 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters but baskets from Ava Fulkerson, James and Janiah Shular helped hold the Jaguars off.
- Belmont Abbey was a perfect 14-of-14 from the free-throw line.
- The Crusaders shot 50 percent in the second half.
- Each team had 32 rebounds and Belmont Abbey had 30 points in the paint.
- The 9-1 start is the best start for the Crusaders in 10 games under head coach Kim Lusk.
UP NEXT
- The Crusaders are off next week for the mandated Division II Christmas Break.
- Belmont Abbey returns to the court on December 31 against Wingate on the road. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.
- The next home game for Belmont Abbey will be Saturday, January 3 against North Greenville at 2 p.m. at the Wheeler Center.