SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team used a fourth-quarter surge as the No. 2 seed Crusaders defeated No. 3 seed Chowan 64-54 Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the Atlantic Casualty Insurance Conference Carolinas Basketball Tournament.

Tied at 39-39 entering the fourth quarter, the Crusaders used a 10-0 run and led by as many as 12 points to secure the victory.

The Crusaders advance to the championship game for the third straight year and will face top-seed Francis Marion at 1 p.m. Sunday at Wofford's Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.

Peyton Nation led the Crusaders offensively with 21points, nine rebounds and four steals shy of a double-double. Janiah Shular recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She added three assists along with Riley James.

Belmont Abbey improves to 24-5 on the season while Chowan is now 19-6 on the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Points came at a premium early but Nation's jump shot just under four minutes in helped spark a 9-2 run for Belmont Abbey.
• Chowan scored the final seven points of the opening quarter to take a 12-9 lead.
• No team had a lead greater than four points in the first half.
• Ivana Bijic made one of her two 3-pointers on the day late in the first half before the Hawks answered with a three to take a 28-26 lead into the half.
• Six of the 13 points for Belmont Abbey in the third quarter came from the free throw line.
• The Crusaders finished Saturday's contest with a season-high 23 free throws made.
• Belmont Abbey got off to a fast start in the fourth quarter with a 15-3 run highlighted by three 3-pointers made from Cate Schieber, Nation and Madison Lusk.
• Schieber had three steals in the win.
• Chowan got back within five points but late baskets from Nation and Riley James helped the Crusaders hold off the Hawks.
• Belmont Abbey finished with 34 rebounds and forced 21 Chowan turnovers.
• The Crusaders finished with a season-high 16 steals on the afternoon.

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Hear from Belmont Abbey head coach Kim Lusk, Peyton Nation and Janiah Shular following Saturday's win.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will face Francis Marion at 1 p.m. Sunday from Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
• FMU defeated No. 5 seed Young Harris 78-44 in the first semifinal Saturday to set up the contest.
• The winner will receive the automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division II Tournament.