February 14, 2008

Boxscore

LAURINBURG, N.C.—Freshman Franchaze Waters (Annapolis, Md.) scored a season-high 16 points for host St. Andrews Presbyterian College but the freshman duo of Marissa Hudley (Charlotte, N.C.) and Markeisha Hicks (Rock Hill, S.C.) each scored 21 points for visiting Queens University of Charlotte en route to a 63-58 Conference Carolinas victory in Harris Court on Valentine’s Day.

Hicks scored 15 of her 21 points in the second half leading the Lady Royals (7-15 Overall; 7-8 Conference Carolinas) to the five-point victory. A senior Erika Thompson (Kalamazoo, Mich.) basket in the final minute tied the game up in the final minute for the Lady Knights (5-18; 4-12) but a Hudley lay-up with 42 seconds left put Queens on top for good.

Waters and Thompson each scored 16 points for St. Andrews.

The Royals held a commanding 49-31 rebounding advantage with Hudley lead the way with a game-high 13 for a double-double.

In a sloppy first half that had both teams turning the ball over 17 times each, Queens was able to take a slim 32-27 lead into the halftime intermission behind 13-of-26 (50.0%) shooting. St. Andrews held a 5-1 lead after holding the Royals without a field goal for the first five minutes but the Royals finally found their stroke going on a 19-2 run over the next five-plus minutes to take a 13-point (20-7) lead midway through the first period. However, St. Andrews out-scored Queens 20-12 for the remainder of the stanza to pull within five points.

Hudley led the Royals into the locker room by almost registering a double-double in the first half with 12 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Franchaze Waters (Annapolis, Md.) stepped up for the Knights by surpassing her season-high in points in just the first half with 11 points that included a pair of three-pointers, an old-fashion three-point play, and a 15-foot jumper in the final seconds of the period.

Queens never trailed in the second half and regained a double-digit lead at 45-35 midway through the final period. St. Andrews chipped away at the lead and edged to within one basket, 50-48, on a junior Desiree Jones (Tulsa, Okla.) three-pointer. The Royals responded with three straight baskets to pull out to an eight-point lead, 56-48, with three minutes left.

Thompson rallied the Knights back with five of the eight points in an 8-0 SAPC run over the next two minutes including a lay-up with 54 seconds left to tie the contest at 56-56.

After receiving a nice pass from sophomore Jacquia Winstead (Elm City, N.C.), Hudley quickly put the visitors back on top just 12 seconds after Thompson’s shot. The Knights missed their last three shots and Queens drilled 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute to seal the five-point victory.

St. Andrews drilled a season-high nine 3-pointers including a trio from both Waters and Jones.

QUC shot 42.9-percent for the game while SAPC was 36.7%.

Jones scored all nine of her points from behind the arc while dishing out four assists. Senior April Johnson (McColl, S.C.) chipped in with six points and team-highs of six rebounds and four blocks.

Hudley scored her 21 points on 10-of-12 accuracy while nine of Hicks 21 points came from the free throw line. Hicks just missed a double-double with eight boards.

St. Andrews next visits Conference Carolinas foe Limestone College on Saturday while Queens hosts No. 16 nationally ranked Anderson University on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip-off at 5:30 p.m.