Charlotte, N.C. – The Presbyterian College Blue Hose women's basketball team (7-3) beat the Queens University of Charlotte Royals (4-5), 68-60 on the road Wednesday night, despite being down by 22 points with a minute to go in the first half.
After losing 38-19 at halftime, the Blue Hose came out with a vengeance in the second half, scoring 49 points while holding the Royals to just 22 points in the final two quarters. Mara Neira scored a new season-high of 24 points and came up huge in the beginning of the fourth quarter where she drilled four consecutive three-point shots to put PC ahead 54-49. Natalie Herrin also played a key role in Presbyterian's comeback after recording a new career-high of 12 points with six rebounds and some strong defense in the clutch.
COACH SHARP'S THOUGHTS
"Our kids really responded at halftime and made the appropriate adjustments. It comes down to players stepping up. Natalie Herrin and her defense on one of the best guards we will see this year, she had 12 points and her minutes were amazing. I'm so proud of her. She deserves that so much."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter – Queens started out the game by scoring the first eight-points before a jumper from Christina Kline ended the Royal's streak. PC picked up another point after a foul on Bryanna Brady, but Queens sent the game to a media timeout with a 12-3 lead. The Royal's took the next six-points before Paige Kindseth swished a two-point bucket to make the score 18-5. Queens ended the first quarter with a score of 24-6.
Second Quarter – Presbyterian scored the first four-points of the second quarter behind buckets from Ashley Carrillo and Neira. After two more points from both sides, followed by a scoreless three minutes, the Royals claimed the last two-points before the media timeout which gave them a 28-12 lead. Queens made the next basket but PC answered with four-points of their own to make the score 30-16. The Royals then went on an eight-point run before Herrin made a three-point jumper to end the first half. After two quarters Queens led by 19 points with a score of 38-19.
Third Quarter – A layup by Brady started off the second half for the Blue Hose. Queens answered with a two-point jumper, but the Blue Hose fought for the next 10 points to bring the Royal's lead down to nine. A three-point play from Queens made the score 43-31, but a pullup jumper from Herrin followed by a layup from Laney Scoggins made it an eight-point game with a score of 43-35. Baskets from both sides kept it that way, until Herrin swished a perfect three-point shot to make the score 45-40. Two more points from both teams ended the third quarter with a score of 47-42.
Fourth Quarter – Neira started off the final quarter of play on a hot streak after draining four straight three-point shots to give the Blue Hose their first lead of the game with a score of 54-49. The Royal's took the next four-points before a layup by Kindseth made the score 56-53 with Presbyterian still holding the lead. Both teams exchanged free throws to push the score to 58-55 when a layup from Neira put the Blue Hose up by five with 2:30 to play. Queens took the next five-points to tie the game at 60 points apiece before a layup from Carrillo put PC up by two-points with 1:03 left to go. After Queens committed several fouls, the Blue Hose scored the last six-points of the game to secure a 68-60 victory.
NOTABLES
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose have an eight-day break before returning to Templeton Center to play against the South Carolina State Bulldogs on Friday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Post-game comments here.
