WALTHAM, Mass. (Nov. 23, 2019) - The Queens College women's basketball team continued its non-conference slate of games on Saturday (Nov. 23) as the Knights headed to the Dana Center in Waltham, Mass. to face off with the Falcons of Bentley University. On an afternoon when junior guard Lucy Tougas returned to the line-up after missing the first few games of the year, the Knights' fourth-quarter charge did not hold up as the team fell by an 89-63 score.
Queens (1-5) was led by another solid performance from Zorria West as the combo guard scored 18 points with five steals and three rebounds; West shot 50% (8-for-16) from the floor in the contest. Tougas, meanwhile, made the most of her season debut against one of the region's most consistent programs by shooting 67% (6-9) from the floor and totaling 12 points in 22 minutes of action. Freshman guard Brianne Moxley added nine points and seven assists in the contest as rookie forward Raiana Brown poured in 11 points in the effort.
Katie Meriggioli led Bentley (3-2) with 23 points while Monica Viapiano collected a double-double in the win (19 points, 12 rebounds).
The Knights never led in the contest as Viapiano's three-pointer on the game's first possession put the hosts up by a 3-0 margin. Tougas answered with a two-point bucket with just under nine minutes remaining in the opening period of play but Bentley responded with a 12-0 run over the next three minutes of action to command a 15-2 lead before a West lay-up ended the QC dry spell. Bentley led 30-18 after the first quarter and the home side held a 47-36 lead going into the halftime break.
QC was unable to cut the deficit down to single digits in the third quarter as Bentley went on an 8-2 run to begin the second half of play. Despite this, the Knights kept the contest close going into the fourth quarter as the Falcons led 69-54 with ten minutes left in regulation. That would be the impetus for a hot start to the final quarter as Queens scored the first nine points of the frame to cut the Falcons' lead to 69-63 with two minutes gone by. The Knights were unable to get closer, however, as an 20-2 run from the home side told the remaining story of the contest.
The Knights shot well from the field, hitting 29-of-55 (52.7%) from the floor and going 3-for-6 (50%) from three-point territory. The Falcons made 53% (31-58) of their shots from the floor but were 13-of-28 (46%) from beyond the three-point line. Bentley also won the rebound battle (33-24) and while Queens was more proficient in the paint (40 points to 32 points), the Falcons outscored the Knights on second chance efforts (18-6) and fast-break points (24-8).
Queens will return to action on Wednesday (Nov. 27) as the Knights host Post University at Lucille Kyvallos Court at Fitzgerald Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
