Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Monday evening in a 73-47 final score.
The Warriors shot 36.5% from the field and were 35% from beyond the arc on Monday. Taylin Smith, Peyton Looky and Kyra Price each had eight points. Looky went on to record four of the 14 assists.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 26 rebounds with Peyton Looky picking up five. Both Alexis Glover and Kyra Price had four. Taylin Smith and Glover recorded solo blocks, and Looky had three steals.
Game Vitals
Final: Belmont Abbey 73, Southern Wesleyan 47
Records: Southern Wesleyan (5-12 / CC 2-8) Belmont Abbey (15-2 / CC 9-0)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan was first on the board as Dyansty Shegog put up a layup off the opening tip-off. However, a foul by Rahkhia Mack seconds later sent Leigha Dennison to the charity stripe where she made both of her shots. The Crusaders pressed on as Cate Schieber hit a three and Dennison laid the ball up into the basket. Mack passed the ball under the basket to Alexis Glover who made a layup to put the Warriors back within three. With just over four minutes left in the first quarter, Kyra Price knocked down a three pointer.
Belmont Abbey continued to thwart the Warriors as they took a sixteen point lead off a jump shot by Riley James. Multiple fouls by the Warriors allowed the Crusaders to go to the charity stripe to extend on their lead. Peyton Looky collected the ball off a pass from Taylin Smith and put up a three pointer. Seconds later, Looky stole the in bound attempt by the Crusaders and laid the ball up into the basket. The Warriors pressed on as Taylin Smith hit a jump shot. However, the Crusaders led 37-21 at halftime.
The Crusaders went on the offensive early in the third quarter as Peyton Nation laid the ball up into the basket. Southern Wesleyan answered with a layup by Kaliah Kendrick. Cate Schieber sunk a three pointer to extend Belmont Abbey's lead up to nineteen. With just over five minutes left in the quarter, Peyton Looky hit her second three of the evening. DeYana Hayes and Taylin Smith each put up layups, but the Crusaders countered with baskets of their own.
The final quarter of the game began with a jump shot by Alexandra Falesto, but seconds later Kyra Price hit her second three pointer of the game. Peyton Looky pulled down a rebound off a shot by Madison Lusk and passed it down the court to Taylin Smith. Smith laid the ball up into the basket to put the Warriors behind the Crusaders 63-35. Reagan Iovino knocked down a three, but the Warriors answered with a three out of the hands of Makayla Raines. Lexi Ransom sunk two threes in the final minute of the game, but it was not enough as a layup by Ivana Bijic allowed Belmont Abbey to walk away with a 73-47 point victory.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on January 22 as they host the Young Harris Mountain Lions at 5pm. They will then host the Barton Bulldogs on January 25. The Warriors will travel to Franklin Springs, GA on January 28 to take on Emmanuel Lions.
