Oakdale, N.Y. - The Queens College women's basketball team used a strong defensive effort to defeat Dowling, 42-38, in an East Coast Conference game in Oakdale, New York.  The Knights are now 6-3 overall, 2-1 in the ECC.

The first four minutes of action saw each side trade a pair of baskets as the Rowland sisters each accounted for buckets for QC.  At the 12:31 mark, Queens took a four-point lead when Melissa Gardner made a jump shot, putting the Knights ahead, 13-9.

Later in the half Dowling answered back and went ahead by three, 20-17, when Rekik Worku made a three-pointer at 5:00.  QC responded with five straight points from Joy McFarland, to grad a 22-20 lead at 3:48.  The Knights got buckets from Elisabeth Gully and MacKenzie Rowland in the final minute to take a 26-25 lead into the half.

In the second half, a steal and layup from Madison Rowland pushed the QC advantage to 31-27 at 17:10.  The game would be tied at 36-36 with 7:16 left in regulation, but the Knights held the Golden Lions to two points over the final 7:16 to earn the 42-38 win.  QC had baskets from Madison Rowland and Tara Fearon in the stretch.

Madison Rowland paced the Knights with a game-high, 19 points.  She picked up a double-double with 12 rebounds and grabbed six more steals, to bring her season total to 41.  As a team, Queens had nine steals, forced 18 turnovers and held Dowling to 21.6% shooting (11-51).

The Queens College women's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, December 14, when they host Bridgeport at 3:30 PM.