PHILADELPHIA, PA – Returning All-American Madison Rowland scored a game-high 25 points as the Queens College women's basketball team opened the 2015-16 season with a 65-58 road victory over Philadelphia University Saturday afternoon. 

The Knights, who entered the contest No. 17 in the USA Today Sports preseason rankings, built a 10-point lead over the Rams thanks to a torrid start from the field. Queens connected on eight of its first ten shots, culminating with a jumper by Melissa Fumano to make the score 18-8 with under three minutes remaining in the first period. 

Tabbed to finish second in their preseason CACC poll, the Rams fought back and whittled the deficit to three after a layup by guard Bria Young. With the score 26-23 and under three minutes remaining in the half, the Knights tightened up their defense, forcing two turnovers and holding the opposition scoreless. On the other end, a jumper by senior guard Kristen Korzevinski and a following three by freshman Emer Moloney gave Queens five straight points and a 31-23 lead going into intermission. 

Philadelphia took advantage of Queens' slow start to the second half and captured the lead, 34-33, at the six-minute mark in the third. A steal by Rowland followed by her breakaway layup wrestled the lead back in favor of the Knights. In addition to her game-high 25 points, Rowland filled the box score with eight rebounds, seven steals and six assists. The game remained close heading into the fourth with the Knights leading 41-39. 

Then, a personal 8-0 run by Rowland and scoring contributions from Korzevinski and MacKenzie Rowland stretched the Knights' lead to 11, 53-42, with 6:31 remaining in the contest. Queens' lead would extend to as many as 12 points as they steadily held off the Rams' fuming efforts. At the final buzzer, the Knights won by the margin 65-58. 

Joining Rowland in double-digits was Korzevinski with an efficient 14 points on 7-11 shooting and Mac. Rowland with 10. For the game, the Knights shot over 50% from the field and 40% from three while holding the Rams to 38% and 30% marks.

QC finishes a two-game road trip in Philadelphia against Holy Family Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 pm.