Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the conference game to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Saturday in an 86-54 final score.

The Warriors shot 39.6% from the field in the loss.  Lisana Burnett led the team with 16 points.  She was followed by Emily Waters with 12 and Brooke Henricks with 11.  Southern Wesleyan posted 11 assists with Waters leading the team with four.  She was followed by Henricks with three. 

Southern Wesleyan collected 25 rebounds during the game.  Both Emily Waters and Lisana Burnett had five rebounds.  Burnett led the team in steals with four and also had the lone block of the afternoon.

Game Vitals

Final: Belmont Abbey 86, Southern Wesleyan 54

Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-22 / CC 3-16) Belmont Abbey (23-2 / CC 18-1)

How It Happened

Belmont Abbey jumped out early on layups by Allie Downing to put them on top 4-0.  Southern Wesleyan countered with a jump shot by Lisana Burnett to put the Warriors within two.  The Crusaders continued to distance themselves, but a three pointer by Brooke Henricks allowed Southern Wesleyan to tie the game 6-6.  A layup by Henricks put the Warriors on top, but the lead was short lived as Taylor Stelley tied it up at eight points apiece.

The Crusaders put up a three pointer to kick-off the second quarter, but the Warriors countered with a layup by Emily Waters to keep Southern Wesleyan within two points.  Southern Wesleyan continued to put on the pressure as Brooke Henricks and Lisana Burnett made layups to give the Warriors a 19-18 point advantage.  The Warriors pressured the Crusaders every move, keeping the game within striking distance on a layup by Henricks.  Despite back-to-back layups by Waters, the Warriors trailed 48-31 at halftime.

Belmont Abbey took a twenty point advantage coming out of the half on layups by Keyanna Spivey and free throws by Allie Downing.  However, the Warriors continued to pressure with a layup by Emily Waters to put them down 33-54.  Halee Morrison made a layup, but then back-to-back baskets by the Crusaders game them a 64-35 point lead.

Lisana Burnett kicked off the final quarter with a layup to put the Warriors down 72-44.  The Warriors pushed onward with baskets by Burnett and Emily Waters, but the Crusaders stayed in control as Kelli Thomas made a layup to put the score at 79-48.  Despite a three point shot by Diamond Ellison, Southern Wesleyan dropped the game 86-54.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on February 19 as they welcome the Chowan Hawks to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium at 5:30 p.m.  They will then travel to Wilson, NC to take on the Barton Bulldogs on February 22 at 2 p.m.  The Warriors will close out the season at home on February 25 as they host the Erskine Flying Fleet for senior night.