FLUSHING, N.Y. – Looking to conclude their three-game homestand on a high note, the Queens College women's basketball team welcomed the Lions of Molloy University to Fitzgerald Gymnasium in East Coast Conference play.
In a game that featured five ties and 12 lead changes, the Knights' offense was led by a career-high 32 points from rookie
Jalea Abrams (Elmira, N.Y.), and 14 points from sophomore
Brianna Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) but the Knights would fall in a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Lions to the final score of 73-67 Wednesday evening.
Game Recap
Both teams opened the first quarter trading buckets, but with the Knights trailing 8-6, a three-pointer from junior
Amiyah Edney-Holmes (Philadelphia, PA) would help the Knights start an 8-0 run from the 4:53 mark to the 2:48 mark as Queens took a 14-8 lead.
As both teams exchanged points to end the quarter, it would be the Knights who would take a 16-12 lead into the second quarter.
The Lions opened the scoring in the second quarter at the free throw line going 1-of-2 before Davis and Abrams tallied back-to-back jumpers to put the Knights up by seven, 20-13 with 8:34 to go until halftime.
With the Knights leading by seven, 22-15 with 7:10 left until halftime, the Lions responded with a 6-0 run to cut Queens' advantage down to one point, 22-21 with 5:36 left.
But the Knights would answer with a 7-1 run as they extended their lead back to six points, 29-23 with 3:16 left in the stanza.
However, Molloy responded with a 7-0 run to take a 30-29 lead before a jumper from Abrams put Queens back up by one as the Knights took a slim lead of 31-30 into the locker rooms at halftime.
Molloy opened the third quarter on an 8-4 run as they took a 38-35 before Abrams and Davis responded with a 4-0 run to take a slim lead of 39-38 with 5:22 to go in the quarter.
But as the Knights were held to 30.0% from the field in the third quarter, the Lions would end the quarter on a 9-2 run as they took a six-point advantage of 47-41 heading into the fourth quarter of play.
As both teams went scoreless to open the fourth quarter, Abrams would lead the comeback charge with a 5-0 run to get the Knights within one, 47-46 with 7:14 to go.
With the Lions leading by five, 54-49, and 4:13 left in the quarter, Abrams would continue her fourth-quarter offensive charge with another five straight points before a jumper from Davis tied the game at 56-56 as Queens put together a 7-2 run.
With the game tied at 56-56, the Lions would go on a 5-0 run to take a 61-56 lead with 39 seconds left in the game.
As the Knights advanced the ball on a timeout, Abrams answered back with her third made three-pointer of the fourth quarter as she scored her 14
th point of the stanza to get the Knights within two, 61-59 with 28 seconds to go.
Queens would force a turnover with 18 seconds left to hold the ball for the final shot as they looked for the potential game-winner or send the game into overtime.
The sophomore guard Davis would deliver for the Knights as Queens tied the game at 61-61 with 14 seconds before the Lions missed a three-pointer to send the game into overtime.
For the second straight week, Queens would go into overtime and their first overtime game against the Lions since the 2003-2004 season.
Molloy opened the scoring in overtime as they went 2-of-2 at the charity stripe before Davis went 1-of-2 at the line to get the Knights back within one, 63-62 at the 3:56 mark.
As Queens held the Lions scoreless for the next 1:35, a layup from sophomore
Gianna Henriques (Bronx, N.Y.) put the Knights back up by one, 64-63 with 2:21 left in the game.
The Lions would take a three-point lead of 67-64 with 1:44 to go before Abrams continued her career day with her fifth made three-pointer of the night to tie the game at 67-67 with 1:35 left in overtime.
But the Knights would be held scoreless over the final minute of play as Molloy ended the game on a 6-0 run to defeat the Knights to the final score of 73-67 Wednesday evening.
By the Numbers
- Abrams recorded a career-high 32 points (11-of-24 FG, 5-of-11 3PT, 5-of-6 FT) to go with six rebounds on the evening.
- The 32 points are the most by a rookie since Chelsea Reeves (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded 33 points against STAC on January 8, 2022.
- The 11 made field goals and five three-pointers are career-high for the Elmira native
- Davis recorded 14 points with seven rebounds, six steals, and four assists.
- The six steals tied a career-high for the sophomore since she recorded six against Jefferson on November 11, 2023
- Henriques recorded eight points, 15 rebounds, three blocks, and one steal on the evening.
- The 15 rebounds tied a career-high for the sophomore center and matched the effort against UDC on November 29, 2023.
- Edney-Holmes tallied seven points, a career-high eight assists, and five rebounds on the night.
- As a team, the Knights shot 36.9% as they went 24-65 from the field, while the Lions were held to 34.4% on 22-64 from the field.
- The Knights held a rebounding margin of 45-39.
Next Game
The Knights open a four-game road stand as they travel to Rochester, N.Y. on Friday (Feb. 16) evening against the Redhawks of Roberts Wesleyan University. Tip-off 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).
