FLUSHING, N.Y. – Continuing her rich form sophomore forward
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) recorded her eighth double-double of the year with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, while rookie point guard
Arianna Lopez (Newburgh, N.Y.) tallied 13 points for the Queens College women's basketball team against the Dolphins of College of Staten Island Saturday afternoon in East Coast Conference play.
After a slow start in the first quarter, the Knights would claw back within two but ultimately fall short to the final score of 68-60 Saturday afternoon.
With the loss, the Knights move to 3-5 in ECC play but maintain their sixth place in the race for a postseason spot.
GAME RECAP
For the second straight game, the Knights would be sluggish out of the gate as they fell behind 10-0 forcing an early timeout at the 7:50 mark.
Queens would quickly regroup as the trio of Lopez, Awaka, and rookie forward
Chinyere Ukaegbu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) put together a 9-5 run as the Knights got within six, 15-9 with 4:53 to go in the first stanza.
The Dolphins would put together a 9-0 run to extend their lead back into double-digits of 15, 24-9 with 2:59 to go.
However over the final 2:33 of the first quarter Queens would limit the Dolphins to 1-of-2 from the field and forced three turnovers as the Knights ended the stanza on a 8-2 run to get within nine, 26-17 entering the second quarter of play.
In the second quarter, Lopez and Awaka would extend that run with a 6-0 start, while holding the Dolphins to 0-of-5 from the field and forcing three turnovers as Queens got within three, 26-23 to force a visitors' timeout at the 5:44 mark.
Using the timeout to their advantage, the Dolphins would end the final 4:52 of the second quarter on an 11-2 run as they took a 37-28 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.
With Awaka in foul trouble and having to sit all of the third quarter, rookie forward
Jaeda Hall (Saint Albans, N.Y.) would lead the Knights' offense with a team-high five points in the stanza as Queens traded buckets but would go into the final 10 minutes of the game trailing by 11, 51-40.
Queens would open the fourth quarter on a quick 6-1 run behind a conventional three-point play from Awaka and a three-pointer from rookie guard
Ashley Chio (North Vancouver, Canada) as the Knights were able to get within six, 52-46 with 7:57 to go in the contest.
Despite the Knights shooting 53.3% from the field with eight made field goals and holding the Dolphins to 44.4% from the field, the Knights would fall to the final score of 68-60 to conclude the first half of the ECC slate.
BY THE NUMBERS
- For the third time in January, Awaka touched the 20+ point margin and recorded her sixth double-double in the last seven games to lead all scorers with a game-high 23 points on a scorching 11-of-12 shooting to go with 10 rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist.
- Lopez recorded 13 points with four assists and two steals with a season-best 39 minutes of action.
- The Newburgh native tied a career-best three-made three pointers in the contest
- Chio recorded nine points and tied a season-best six assists to go with three rebounds and two steals.
NEXT GAME
Queens will use the week to prepare for the second half of the ECC slate beginning on Saturday, Feb. 1 in Rockville Centre, N.Y. against the Lions of Molloy University. Molloy enters the week with a 3-5 ECC record. The Knights won the first meeting over Molloy to the final score of 67-60 back on Dec. 7. Tip-off is set for noon.
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).
