Belmont, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in a 68-53 final score on Wednesday evening.

The Warriors shot 44% from the field and were 36.4% from beyond the arc in the loss against the Crusaders.  Lexi Greffen led the team with 11 points.  She was followed by Caroline Reese with 10 points and Tristen Berry with eight points.  Southern Wesleyan collected 13 assists with Brittany Mack and Brooke Henricks each picking up three.

Southern Wesleyan collected 24 rebounds.  Allie Newberry led the team with six rebounds.  Shelby Glance picked up two of the three blocks in the loss.  Newberry followed with the other block.  The Warriors had three steals.


 
 
Game Vitals

Final: Belmont Abbey 68, Southern Wesleyan 53

Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-14 / CC 2-6) Belmont Abbey (10-3 / CC 7-0)


 
 
How It Happened

The Crusaders took the first points of the evening on a layup by Abigail Crain.  The Warriors quickly countered as Tristen Berry passed the ball over to Brittany Mack, who stepped beyond the arc and fired off a three point shot.  A jump shot by Lexi Greffen allowed the Warriors to maintain their one point advantage.  Berry stepped beyond the arc to put up her first three pointer of the day to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to 8-6.  Belmont Abbey challenged back as Riley James sunk a three pointer.  However, a layup by Greffen allowed Southern Wesleyan to extend their lead to three points shortly afterwards.  The Crusaders would not relent as layups by Katie Bischoping and Catherine Hendershott allowed them to take the lead.

Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge in the second quarter as Allie Newberry put up a turn around jump shot.  However, baskets by Ricky Lesenyego allowed the Crusaders to take a ten point lead.  The Warriors would not relent as Lexi Greffen put up a jump shot and then seconds later stepped beyond the arc to put up a three point shot.  Tristen Berry stepped beyond the arc and hit another three pointer to put the Warriors down four points to the Crusaders.  A three pointer out of the hands of Allie Newberry allowed the Warriors to trail the Crusaders 33-31 at halftime.

Belmont Abbey pushed ahead in the third quarter as Cate Schieber put up a three pointer.  A second three point shot by Schieber allowed them to take a ten point lead, but a layup by Alexis Glover allowed the Warriors to cut it back down to eight.  The Crusaders maintained the offensive as Schieber put up another three to put them ahead 51-34.

The Warriors kicked off the final quarter as Brittany Mack passed the ball under the net to Shelby Glance.  Glance laid the ball up into the basket.  Mack followed with a layup of her own.  However, the Crusaders countered as Catherine Hendershott laid the ball up.  A jump shot by Abigail Crain allowed Belmont Abbey to extend their lead to 60-40 with just over five minutes left on the clock.  Alexis Glover laid the ball up into the basket for the Warriors.  Caroline Reese stepped beyond the arc and put in back-to-back three point shot to put the Warriors down eighteen.  Despite a last second three point shot by Shelby Glance, the Warriors fell to the Crusaders in a 68-53 final score.
 

 
 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on January 14 as they travel to Murfreesboro, NC to take on the Chowan Hawks.  The Warriors will return to Central, SC on January 16 as they host the Francis Marion Patriots at 5 p.m.  They will then host the Converse Valkyries on January 18 at 5 p.m.  Southern Wesleyan will wrap up their homestead on January 21 as they host the University of Mount Olive Trojans at 2 p.m.