PHILADELPHIA, PA. – The Queens College women's basketball team opened the 2024-2025 campaign as they matched up against NCAA East Regional runners-up Thomas Jefferson University Rams Saturday afternoon competing in the seventh annual ECCxCACC Conference Challenge at host site Chestnut Hill College inside the Sorgenti Arena.
Two Knights in rookie guard
Ashley Chio (North Vancouver, CA.) and rookie forward
Jaeda Hall (Saint Albans, N.Y.) paced the Knights' offense as they combined for 21 points but the second-half comeback would fall short as Queens fell to the final score of 69-48 in their season opener.
GAME RECAP
The Rams opened the scoring taking an early 4-0 lead before sophomore forward
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) and rookie point guard
Arianna Lopez (Newburgh, N.Y.) combined for eight points as Queens took an 8-4 lead with 6:33 left in the first quarter.
As the Rams tied the game at 8-8, Awaka's layup would put the Knights back up by two, 10-8 before Jefferson ended the final 1:46 minute of the first quarter on a 12-2 run to take a 20-12 lead into the second quarter.
Jefferson opened the second quarter by extending their lead to 10, 22-12 before the Knights' offense responded with a 9-2 run to get them within three, 24-21 with 5:03 to go until halftime.
As the Knights missed their next four shots and committed two turnovers, the Rams answered with an 11-0 run to extend their lead back to 14, 35-21 with 2:00 minutes left in the second quarter.
Behind Chio and sophomore guard
Jalea Abrams (Elmira, N.Y.) the Knights would end the second quarter on an 8-2 run to cut their deficit down to single digits, 37-28 heading into the locker rooms.
It would be a slow start for Queens in the third quarter as the Rams opened the quarter with a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 15 points, 43-28.
A three-pointer from Chio would break the Knights' scoring drought before a three-point play from Lopez brought Queens back within single digits, 43-34 at the 6:45 mark.
Queens would continue to find consistent scoring but foul trouble would hurt the Knights as the Rams built a 10-point lead of 52-42 heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
However cold shooting in the fourth quarter would hurt the Knights' comeback attempt as they were held to two made field goals, while the Rams shot 46.7% from the field to defeat the Knights to the final score of 69-48.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Chio paced the Knights' offense with a team-high 11 points, three assists, two rebounds and one steal.
- Hall recorded 10 points, four rebounds, and two steals off the bench.
- Awaka recorded eight points, a team-high six rebounds, two assists, and one block.
- Lopez notched eight points, two rebounds, and one assist.
- Rookie Autumn Simon (Bellport, N.Y.) recorded four points, five rebounds, and a team-high four blocks.
NEXT GAME
The Knights conclude the Conference Challenge on Sunday, Nov. 10 against the host Griffins of Chestnut Hill College. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.
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