BELMONT, N.C. — Four Belmont Abbey women's basketball players reached double figures, including a season-high from Janiah Shular, as the Crusaders defeated Converse 75-54 Thursday afternoon to clinch the outright Northwest Division title.

The game was rescheduled from Wednesday night due to inclement weather.

Shular finished with 15 points, four steals, four rebounds and three assists while Riley James matched her scoring total with 15 points with three assists and a steal. Cate Schieber had 11 points and a team-high six rebounds Madison Lusk added 10 for the Crusaders.

With the win, Belmont Abbey improves to 20-5 overall, 14-3 in Conference Carolinas play and 7-0 in the division. Converse is now 8-17 overall, 6-12 in the conference and 4-3 in the division.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Converse made the opening basket of the game, Belmont Abbey went on an 11-0 run to take an early lead.
• The Crusaders led by as many as 11 points in the first quarter.
• The Valkyries got within a point early in the second quarter but Belmont Abbey used the outside shot as part of a 19-4 run.
• The Crusaders made five threes in the quarter: two from Lusk, two from Schieber and one from Shular.
• James accounted for 13 of her 15 points after halftime, including eight in the second half.
• Shular also accounted for eight points in the third quarter, including a 3-pointer to give the Crusaders a 17-point lead.
• An 11-4 run in the fourth quarter helped put the game away for the Abbey. The largest lead of the contest was 23 points.
• The Crusaders forced 25 Converse turnovers and had a 32-25 rebounding advantage. The Abbey also had 14 steals led by Shular and three from Peyton Nation while Lusk and Valeria Batista each had two.
• Belmont Abbey matched a season-best with eight 3-pointers made.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders host Mount Olive at 2 p.m. Saturday for the penultimate home game of the regular season.
• Four seniors will be recognized on Senior Day as part of a pregame ceremony.