Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Saturday afternoon in a 73-43 final score.
The Warriors shot 32.1% from the field in the loss to the Crusaders. Makayla Raines led the team with 14 points. Behind her, Danielle Earley had 10 points in the game. Of the seven assists, Raines had two.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 19 rebounds. Both Makayla Raines and Danielle Earley had five rebounds to their names. Kyra Price had the lone block. Peyton Looky had three of the nine steals.
Game Vitals
Final: Belmont Abbey 73, Southern Wesleyan 43
Records: Southern Wesleyan (6-20 / CC 4-14) Belmont Abbey (20-6 / CC 15-4)
How It Happened
The Warriors were first on the board as Makayla Raines got up a mid-range. However, the Crusaders answered with baskets by Kallie Lusk and Brielle George. Belmont Abbey continued their twelve point run with a three pointer out of the hands of Ava Fulkerson. A layup by Danielle Earley allowed the Warriors to cut Belmont Abbey's lead down to eight. The Crusaders persevered as Madison Lusk knocked down her first three pointer of the game.
Makayla Raines put up another jump shot from right inside the paint to give Southern Wesleyan the first points of the second quarter. However, Belmont Abbey continued to press ahead as Sofia McNabb put up a three pointer and Riley James hit a jump shot. Savanna Nicholson laid the ball up into the basket and was fouled in the process to earn the and-one basket. Nicholson went on to pull down a defensive rebound and pass it down the court to Peyton Looky. Looky quickly fired off a three pointer to put the Warriors behind the Crusaders 35-15. Despite several more layups by the Warriors, Belmont Abbey led 40-24 as they went into the locker room.
Southern Wesleyan was got up the first points of the third quarter as DeYana Hayes laid the ball up into the basket. With just over seven minutes on the clock, Hayes stole the ball away from the Crusaders and passed the ball over to Makayla Raines. Raines quickly got the ball out to Danielle Earley who fired off a three pointer to put the Warriors back within twelve. Belmont Abbey answered with layups by Sofia McNabb and Madison Lusk.
The Crusaders continued to distance themselves from the Warriors in the final quarter of the game as Ava Fulkerson stepped around the defense to lay the ball up into the basket. Danielle Earley tipped the ball into the basket off a missed shot by Emily Gamon. However, jump shots by Lillian Bates and Claire Griffin allowed Belmont Abbey to extend their lead to thirty. Gamon got up a couple more shots, but the Crusaders went on to win the game in a 73-43 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the regular season on the road as they travel to take on the Francis Marion Patriots on February 23. They will then go to Franklin Springs, GA on February 25 to take on the Emmanuel Lions.
