BELMONT, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team officially clinched a share of the Northwest Division title as the Crusaders defeated Converse 79-64 Wednesday evening at the Wheeler Center.

Kallie Lusk led the Crusaders with a game-high 16 points with six rebounds while Brielle George added 11 points and seven rebounds. Riley James was one point shy of a double-double with nine points and a career-high 11 assists. She also had three steals.

Madison Lusk also had nine points for the Abbey and three other Crusaders had eight points each.

With Wednesday's win, Belmont Abbey is now 16-4 overall and 11-2 in Conference Carolinas play with an unblemished 6-0 record in division play. The Crusaders have also won six straight contests.

Converse is 2-18 overall, 1-11 in the league and 1-5 in the division.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Converse scored the opening basket, the Crusaders answered with nine straight points.
• Belmont Abbey held the Valkyries to just three field goals in the first quarter.
• Converse got to within eight points late in the first half but a 6-0 run to close the first half helped the Crusaders get back up by 14 at the half.
• The Crusaders opened the second half with an 11-3 run.
• Eight of George's 11 points came after halftime.
• Belmont Abbey led by as much as 24 points in the second half of the contest.
• The 23 assists was a season-best for Belmont Abbey.
• The Crusaders out-rebounded the Valkyries 46-34.
• Belmont Abbey had 15 second-chance points and 36 points in the paint.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders head on the road to face Francis Marion in a battle of the top teams of the conference on Saturday.
• Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Florence, S.C.