January 7, 2008

Boxscore

BELMONT, N.C.—Junior guard Marie Marquez (Greenville, S.C.) hit the game-winning shot with 5.4 left to lead host Belmont Abbey College to a 53-51 Conference Carolinas women’s basketball victory over visiting St. Andrews Presbyterian College in women’s basketball action on Monday night in the Wheeler Center.

The Lady Crusaders improved to 7-3 on the season and 4-1 in the league behind a team-high 14 points from Marquez. Junior guard Desiree Jones (Tulsa, Okla.) scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Lady Knights, who fell to 2-8 and 1-3.

The Lady Knights held the hosts without a basket in the first nine minutes but only led 6-2 because of seven turnovers. A freshman Kristin Zipkin (Canton, Ga.) three-pointer kept St. Andrews ahead, 11-6, but the Crusaders rallied with a 5-0 run to tie the game up for the first time at 11-11.

SAPC regained a four-point advantage with back-to-back baskets by freshman Jacquelyn Adcock (Damascus, Md.) and Jones. A couple plays late, senior Danielle Norman (Bronx, N.Y.) hit a turn-around hoop on a Jones assist to provide the Knights with their largest lead of the half, 19-13.

Belmont Abbey once again battled back with an 8-0 run in the final three and a half minutes. The rally featured three-pointers by Marquez and Kelsey Daniel (Douglas, Ga.) as the Crusaders took a 21-19 lead into the intermission.

St. Andrews defense held the Abbey to just 5-of-35 (14.3%) shooting but the Crusaders were able to take the slim two-point lead into the locker room by scoring eight points on 12 Knight turnover; scoring five more points on 15 offensive rebounds; and connecting on eight free throws. SAPC shot 36.0% in the first stanza but were out rebounded 27-24.

The Abbey continued its run to start the second with a 7-0 surge in the first couple minutes to take its largest lead at 28-19. The Knights bounced back and closed the gap to two with their own 7-0 run. BAC continued to lead 33-26 but back-to-back 3-pointers by Jones got St. Andrews back to within one, 33-32, with 13:45 left.

The Crusaders continued to hold a narrow single-digit lead for the next 11 minutes until a pair of made free throws by Jones tied everything for the first time in the second half at 49-49 with 2:41 showing on the clock. The teams traded baskets on the next two possessions knotting the score at 51-51 going into the final minute.

St. Andrews looked to take the lead in the final 20 seconds but sophomore Courtney Naquin (Virginia Beach, Va.) made a big steal for the Abbey setting up the game-winning basket by Marquez with 5.4 seconds left. The Knights never got a shot off in the final seconds as they committed their third turnover of the final 60 seconds.

Jones, who tied her season-high with 15 points, also provided a game-high six assists, four rebounds, and two steals.

St. Andrews were lighting up the nets at 52.2% accuracy in the second half to finish the game shooting 43.8-percent. The Knights also controlled the glass, 17-10, in the final period to win the battle of the boards, 41-37. However, 23 turnovers proved too costly as Belmont Abbey converted them into 19 extra points.

The depleted St. Andrews lineup had its five starters scoring 46 of their 51 total points including 10 apiece from Norman and Adcock. Norman posted her sixth double-double of the season with a game-high 14 rebounds. Zipkin added eight points.

Marquez was the only Crusader in double-digits with Daniel following at nine points.

St. Andrews next hosts Conference Carolinas rival Mount Olive College on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. while Belmont Abbey entertains league foe Barton College at the same time.