BUFFALO, N.Y. – It was another impressive showing from the freshmen duo of
Chelsea Reeves (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and
Jennah DeGout (Bronx, N.Y.) as the two combined for 36 points to lead the Queens College women's basketball team to a 76-72 victory over D'Youville College Saints in East Coast Conference action at the College Center Gym.
How it Happened
Coming off a tough overtime loss last weekend, Queens got off to a strong start as they opened the first quarter on a 10-0 run. The Knights' defense would hold the home side scoreless until the 4:05 mark as the Saints scored their first bucket of the game. It would start a 10-2 run for the home side before the Knights answered back with points from junior
Tsahai Corbie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and senior
Nora Gabel (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) as Queens took a 17-15 lead heading into the second quarter.
Just 18 seconds in Reeves would put the Knights up by four with a layup as Queens extended their advantage to 19-15. The second quarter would see seven lead changes and two ties as both sides exchanged buckets.
After a steal and jumper by Reeves put Queens up 31-28 with 3:47 until halftime, D'Youville answered with an 11-2 run to take a 39-33 lead with 1:19 left in the second quarter. Determined to stay in the game, the Knights responded with a 4-0 run to close out the half as junior
Khadija Demry (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and freshman
Farrah Pitt (Valley Stream, N.Y.) tallied back-to-back buckets.
Despite shooting 53.1 percent from the field, the Knights went into the locker room trailing 39-37.
After forcing two Saints turnovers Pitt would tie the game 39-39 with 9:15 left in the third quarter. The next four minutes of play would both sides trade buckets as Queens stayed within distance. Tied 46-46 the Saints went on a 12-6 run to close out the third quarter and take a 58-52 heading to the last quarter of play.
Trailing by six, DeGout cut the deficit down to four with a second-chance bucket. But the next three minutes of play would see both sides trade buckets as the Knights stayed in the game.
The fourth quarter turned into a Reeves and DeGout show as they combined for 14 points in the comeback. Trailing 64-59 with 7:05 left to play, Reeves led a 7-1 run as the Knights tied the game 66-66 with 3:21 left in the fourth quarter.
After two Saints free throws put the home side up 68-66, DeGout completed a three-point play to give the Knights a 69-68 lead with 2:44 left. With the Knights up 70-68, the Saints would tie the game 70-70 with 37 seconds left to play forcing a Knights timeout.
Out of the timeout, the sharpshooter Gabel made her presence felt as the senior knocked down a clutch three from beyond the arc to put the Knights up 73-70 with 27 seconds left in regulation.
Queens would ice the game at the free-throw line going 3-of-4 in the final 18 seconds of the game to pick up a 76-72 ECC victory. The Knights put together one of their best fourth-quarter showing of the season shooting 53.33 percent (8-of-15 FG) as they outscored the Saints 24-14.
By the Numbers
The two time ECC Rookie of the Week Reeves continues to lead the way for the young Knights squad posting a team-high 22 points (11-of-17 FG) with seven rebounds, and three steals. DeGout notched her third consecutive double-double with 14 points (6-of-12 FG) and 11 rebounds.
For the second consecutive game, Pitt filled up the stat sheet posting seven points (3-of-9 FG), game-high five assists, two rebounds, and four steals.
Queens shot 46.4 percent (32-of-69) from the field and 75.0 percent (4-of-4) from three. While D'Youville shot 42.9 percent (27-of-63) from the field and 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from beyond the arc.
The Knights won the rebound battle with a 42-36 margin and scored 26 points off 26 Saints turnovers.
UP NEXT: It will be a short rest for the Knights as they conclude the Buffalo trip with a matchup against the 2020-21 NCAA East Region champions Daemen College Wildcats on Sunday (Jan. 16) in Amherst, N.Y. Tip-off is set for noon.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at
queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook
(Queens College Athletics), Twitter
(@QCKnights), Queens College WBB
(QCKNIGHTS_WBB) and Instagram
(qcknightsny), women's basketball
(qcknightswbb).
