FLUSHING, N.Y. – Looking to extend their wins streak to three games, the Queens College women's basketball team welcomed the Chargers of Dominican University of New York in game four of the Knights Thanksgiving Invitational Sunday afternoon.
Sophomore guard
Jalea Abrams (Elmira, N.Y.) paced the Knights offense with a season-high 23 points, while classmate forward
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) recorded her first double-double of the year with 11 points and 15 rebounds but a second-half comeback would fall short as Knights were defeated to the final score of 58-50 Sunday afternoon.
GAME RECAP
It would be a sluggish start to the game for the Knights as they fell behind 8-0 by the 4:49 mark before rookie point guard
Ashley Chio (North Vancouver, CA.) layup got Queens on the board at the 4:21 mark.
As the Knights held the Chargers to one field goal over the final four minutes of the first quarter, the trio of Abrams, Chio, and rookie guard
Sajol Thornhill (Ashburn, VA.) would help Queens end the stanza on a 7-2 run as they were able to get within one, 10-9 entering the second quarter.
Dominican opened the scoring to extend their lead back to three, 12-9 at the 8:30 mark before Chio responded with a three-pointer to tie the game at 12-12 by the 8:01 mark.
Both teams would trade buckets over the three next minutes of play before Queens took a slim lead of 17-16 at the 4:19 mark behind a three-pointer from Abrams.
However, the Chargers would end the final 3:32 of the second quarter on a 14-2 run as they took a 10 point of 30-20 at halftime.
Dominican continuing their second quarter momentum would extend their run to a total of 19-3 as they took a 14-point lead of 35-21 by the 7:59 mark.
But over the final 7:54 of the stanza the Knights would apply the pressure on both ends of the court as they held the visitors scoreless and forced six turnovers. Converting their defensive effort onto the offensive side of the court, the Knights would go on a 10-0 run from the 6:27 mark to the 2:01 mark to get within four, 35-31 heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
The Chargers would break their scoring drought at the 9:50 mark to extend their lead back to seven, 38-31 before Abrams and Awaka combined for five quick points to get within two, 38-36 by the 8:42 mark.
But it would be the closest the Knights would get within of a comeback as the visitors responded with a 20-14 run to defeat Queens to the final score of 58-50.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Abrams led the offense recording a season-best 23 points to go with five rebounds and three steals.
- For the second straight game, the sophomore guard tied a career-high five made three-pointers.
- Awaka recorded her first double-double of the year with 11 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks (career-high), two steals and two assists.
- The sophomore forward recorded her eighth career double-double of her career.
- The 15 rebounds are a season-best effort for the Hyde Park native.
- Chio recorded eight points, four assists, four rebounds, and one steal.
- Rookie forward Chinyere Ukaegbu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) notched six points, six rebounds, a career-high three blocks, two assists, and one steal.
NEXT GAME
The Knights will use the week to prepare for their East Coast Conference opener on Saturday, Dec. 7 as they welcome the Lions of Molloy University to town. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m.
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