FLUSHING, N.Y. – Continuing their homestand the Queens College women's basketball team welcomed the Cougars of Caldwell University to Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
Three Knights scored in double-figures to pace the offense with the rookie trio of guard
Sajol Thornhill (Ashburn, VA.), forwards
Chinyere Ukaegbu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and
Jaeda Hall (Saint Albans, N.Y.) combining for 30 points, but a second-half comeback would fall short as Queens fell to the final score of 57-50 Wednesday evening.
GAME RECAP
It would be a sluggish start to the game for the Knights as they fell behind by 11 points, 15-4 entering the second stanza.
A layup from Thornhill at the 9:19 mark would get Queens within nine, 15-6 before the Cougars extended their lead back to double-digits.
With Caldwell leading by 14, 25-11 at the 3:56 mark Thornhill and sophomore guard
Jalea Abrams (Elmira, N.Y.) would record back-to-back buckets to bring Queens' deficit back down to single digits, 25-16 with a minute left until halftime.
However, Caldwell would respond with a 6-0 run to take a 31-16 lead at halftime.
As the visitors opened the third quarter with a 6-2 run to take a 19-point edge of 37-18, the Knights would start their comeback attempt as a layup from Ukaegbu at the 5:58 mark saw Queens put together a 13-4 run to end the third quarter and cut their deficit down to 10 points, 41-31 entering the final 10 minutes of the game.
Queens would hold Caldwell to 1-of-10 from the field and forced three turnovers to end the third quarter.
But the Cougars opened the fourth quarter with an 11-4 run to extend their lead to 17 points to fend off a Knights rally and defeat Queens to the final score of 57-50 Wednesday evening.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Ukaegbu recorded a career-best 10 points to go with five rebounds and three steals.
- Hall tied a career-best effort of 10 points to go with five rebounds, two steals, and one block.
- Thornhill recorded 10 points, three steals, one assist, and one rebound.
- Sophomore forward Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) recorded seven points, 12 rebounds, and two assists.
- The sophomore recorded her fifth double-digit rebounding effort of the year.
- Queens converted 28 Cougars turnovers into 19 points.
NEXT GAME
The Knights conclude the 2024 portion of the schedule on Saturday, Dec. 21 as they welcome the Purple Knights of the University of Bridgeport to town in non-conference play. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m.
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