Belmont, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Saturday afternoon in a 82-44 final score.
The Warriors shot 27.6% from the field and were 71.4% from the free throw line. Taylin Smith led the team with 10 points. Both Lexie Ransom and Rahkhia Mack recording seven points. Kaliah Kendrick and Dynasty Shegog each had an assist.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 27 rebounds with Dynasty Shegog leading the team with four. Both Alexis Glover and Asia Pearley had blocks. The Warriors stole the ball away nine times with Peyton Looky leading the team with four.
Game Vitals
Final: Belmont Abbey 82, Southern Wesleyan 44
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-6 / CC 0-2) Belmont Abbey (6-2 / CC 2-0)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan jumped out early as Peyton Looky fired off a three pointer. Belmont Abbey countered as jump shots by Riley James and Valeria Batista allowed the Crusaders to take a one point advantage over Southern Wesleyan. Cate Schieber and Leigha Dennison put up back-to-back baskets. Dynasty Shegog passed the ball under the net to Lexie Ransom who laid it up to keep the Warriors within five. The Crusaders would not relent as Dennison laid the ball up once again. Taylin Smith hit a jump shot and was fouled in the process to earn the and-one basket.
Janiah Shular kicked off the second quarter with a jump shot. The Warriors answered as Kaliah Kendrick passed the ball out beyond the arc to Taylin Smith. Smith sunk a three pointer into the net to put Southern Wesleyan behind Belmont Abbey 30-13. Lexie Ransom hit a pull up jump shot and then Rahkhia Mack put up a jump shot of her own. The Warriors continued to fight back with a layup by Dynasty Shegog. However, in the final seconds of the second quarter Madison Lusk sunk the ball into the basket from beyond the arc to give the Crusaders a 42-21 point lead at halftime.
The Crusaders maintained the intensity in the third quarter as Abigail Crain laid the ball up into the basket. Taylin Smith put up a jump shot, but the Crusaders countered with a layup by Janiah Shular. Lexie Ransom drove to the basket and laid the ball up and was fouled in the process to send her to the free throw line. Ransom made the free throw to get the and-one point. Belmont Abbey continued to press ahead with a layup by Lillian Bates.
Belmont Abbey put up a jump shot out of the hands of Alexandra Falesto to start the final quarter of the game. DeYana Hayes was fouled while attempting a shot to send her to the charity stripe. Hayes hit both free throws to put the Warriors behind the Crusaders 66-34. Kaliah Kendrick put up back-to-back layups, and then Dynasty Shegog made a layup of her own. However, the Crusaders countered with another three pointer by Madison Lusk. Despite a last second jump shot by Faith Yelton, the Warriors fell to the Crusaders in a 82-44 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on December 4 as they welcome the Georgia College Bobcats at 5pm. They will remain at home on December 7 as they host the Lees-McRae Bobcats. Southern Wesleyan will travel to Rome, GA to take on the Shorter Hawks on December 14.
