ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Concluding the 2024 slate of their East Coast Conference schedule Friday evening the Queens College women's basketball team matched up against Roberts Wesleyan University Redhawks inside the Voller Athletic Center in Rochester.
All eight Knights scored to lead the season-high 46.9% shooting effort with four Knights scoring in double-doubles led by a game-high 18 points from sophomore guard
Jalea Abrams (Elmira, N.Y.), rookie guard
Ashley Chio (North Vancouver, Canada) tying a career-high 16 points and the duo of sophomore forward
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) and rookie forward
Autumn Simon (Bellport, N.Y.) combining for 22 points to help Queens earn a convincing 78-54 victory over the Redhawks Friday evening.
With the victory Queens improves to 4-4 overall and 2-0 in ECC play. For the first time since the 2017-2018 season, the Knights have started ECC play with a 2-0 record. Also for the second straight season Queens have earned a road victory over the Redhawks and extend their wins streak to three games against Roberts Wesleyan.
GAME RECAP
The Redhawks opened the scoring at the 8:33 mark before Queens responded with an 8-0 run with Abrams and Chio combining for six points as the Knights took an 8-2 lead at the 7:16 mark.
Roberts Wesleyan answered with back-to-back buckets to cut Queens' advantage down to 8-6 by the 4:42 mark.
With the Knights looking to get back into rhythm and held scoreless for over four and half minutes of play, a second chance bucket from Simon at the 2:40 mark would break the drought and start an 11-0 run to end the first quarter as Queens took a 13-point lead of 19-6 into the second quarter.
A layup from Awaka to begin the second quarter would extend the run and put Queens up 21-6 with 9:26 left until halftime.
Just as the Redhawks broke their scoreless drought at the 9:15 mark, Awaka and Chio would start a 15-2 run from the 8:29 mark to the 4:53 mark as Queens extended their lead to 26 points to the score of 36-10.
But over the final 3:57 of the stanza, the Redhawks would go on a 14-7 run but Queens would take a 43-24 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.
Leading by 19 points to begin the third quarter, Queens would begin the stanza with a 14-5 run with the duo of Abrams and rookie point guard
Arianna Lopez (Newburgh, N.Y.) combining for 12 points as the Knights took a 28-point lead of 57-29 with 5:11 left in the third quarter.
With the Knights shooting a season-high 46.9% on the night, Queens would never let the slip below 20 points as the Knights earned a convincing victory of 78-54 over the Redhawks and improved to 4-4 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Abrams led the offense with a game-high 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block.
- Chio tied a career-high 16 points to go with six assists, three steals, three rebounds, and one block.
- The rookie notched a career-high four made three-pointers, three steals and tied a career-high six helpers in the victory.
- Awaka notched 12 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and one block in the victory.
- Simon tallied 10 points, six rebounds, one steal, and one block off the bench.
- Queens converted 24 Redhawks turnovers into 32 points and held a 40-30 rebounding margin.
NEXT GAME
The Knights open a three-game non-conference homestand to conclude the 2024 slate of the schedule beginning on Monday, Dec. 16 as they welcome the Eagles of Post University. Tip-off is set for 6:00 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).
