FLUSHING, N.Y. – Opening East Coast Conference play Wednesday evening, rookie
Jalea Abrams (Elmira, N.Y.) and sophomore
Brianna Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) combined 37 points as the Queens College women's basketball team welcomed the Firebirds of the University of the District of Columbia to Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
Game Recap
It was a slow start for the Knights as the Firebirds took an early lead of 16-7 before the home side rallied back to end the first quarter on a 5-1 run as they cut their deficit down to 17-12 heading into the second quarter.
But the visitors would extend their advantage to 10 points, 23-13 with 8:26 to go before the Knights responded once again.
Led by Abrams and Davis, the Knights would go on a 9-0 run from 7:46 to 5:45 as they cut their deficit down to one, 23-22.
But UDC would end the second quarter on a 10-4 run to extend their advantage to seven points, 33-26 at halftime.
Queens would open the scoring in the third quarter on a jumper from junior
Lateisha Willis (Nottingham, England) to bring their deficit down to five, 33-28 before the Firebirds responded with a basket of their own for a 35-28 lead.
However, Abrams would lead the comeback as the Knights ended the third quarter on a 14-3 run from the 6:58 mark to give the home side a 42-38 edge heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
In the third quarter, Queens would hold the Firebirds to 15.38% shooting with only two made field goals as they forced three turnovers and held them to 1-10 shooting in their run to taking a four-point lead.
As the Firebirds opened the scoring in the fourth quarter to cut Queens lead down to one, 42-41, Williams would respond with a layup to extend the lead back to three, 44-41 with 9:15 to go.
As UDC went 1-of-2 at the charity striple to bring the home side advantage down to two, 44-42, Davis and Abrams would combine for 11 points in the Knights 11-1 run from the 8:02 mark to 4:51 mark as Queens took a 12-point lead of 55-43, the largest lead of the game.
However, fouls and turnovers would hurt the Knights as the visitors ended the game on a 21-3 run to steal a 64-58 victory over the Knights in the ECC opener for both teams.
By the Numbers
- Abrams led the Knights with a career-best night shooting of 7-12 with a career-high 20 points.
- Davis recorded 17 points (8-18 FG) to go with five rebounds, four assists and one steal.
- Rookie Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) recorded another all-around effort with nine points, eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal.
- Willis tallied eight points (4-5 FG) with four rebounds, and a career-best four steals on the night.
- While sophomore Gianna Henriques (Bronx, N.Y.) tallied four points, a career-best 15 rebounds, and four steals.
- As a team, the Knights shot 45.1% as they went 23-51 from the field, while the Firebirds were held to 35.6% going 21-59 from the field.
Next Game
The Knights travel to Staten Island, N.Y. on Saturday (Dec. 2) afternoon with a matchup against the College of Staten Island Dolphins in ECC play. Tip-off set for 1:00 p.m.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), X (Formerly Twitter) (@QCKnights), Queens College WBB (QCKNIGHTS_WBB), and Instagram (qcknightsny), women's basketball (qcknightswbb).
