FLUSHING, N.Y. – After beginning the season with five consecutive road contests, the Queens College women's basketball team returned to Fitzgerald Gymnasium to open a two-game homestand, hosting the Knights Thanksgiving Invitational on Saturday afternoon. The Knights matched up against NE10 foe Franklin Pierce University, welcoming the Ravens for their first home appearance of the year.
The Knights were powered by the forward duo of senior
Chyna Bryant (Bronx, N.Y.) and junior
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.). Bryant delivered a career-high 19 points, while Awaka recorded her fourth consecutive double-double, finishing with 11 points and a season-best 15 rebounds to guide Queens to a 54–49 victory.
With the win, the Knights earned their second victory of the season and defeated the Ravens for the first time since the 2017–18 campaign, when they claimed a 73–66 overtime victory inside Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
GAME RECAP
The Ravens opened the game on a 5–0 run before from rookie guard
Enise Hodzic (Queens, N.Y.) knocked down a three-pointer and sophomore forward
Chinyere Ukaegbu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added a layup to help Queens quickly tie the contest at 5–5 by the 6:53 mark.
Franklin Pierce briefly regained an 8–5 advantage, but the Knights responded with a 9–2 run to close the first quarter with a 14–10 lead.
Riding that momentum into the second, a three-pointer from Bryant extended the lead to 17–10 at the 8:56 mark. Timely buckets from Awaka and rookie guard
Eva Gitto (Albany, N.Y.) kept Queens in control, as the Knights built their largest lead of the half, eight points, on multiple occasions.
Franklin Pierce trimmed the margin to 27–23 with 28 seconds remaining, but junior guard
Shellby Mcgill (Bronx, N.Y.) sank two free throws to send the Knights into halftime ahead 29–23.
The third quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle as Queens worked to maintain its advantage. The Ravens cut the lead down to two on two separate occasions, but the forward trio of Awaka, Bryant, and Ukaegbu delivered key responses. Bryant closed the final 3:31 of the quarter with her own 6–0 run, giving the Knights a 40–35 cushion heading into the final 10 minutes.
Franklin Pierce opened the fourth quarter with a 5–2 spurt to once again pull within two, 42–40, at the 8:06 mark. But Queens answered emphatically. Led by junior guard
Daja White (Queens, N.Y.), Bryant, and Awaka, the Knights pieced together a 7–0 run to build their largest lead of the afternoon—a nine-point advantage at 49–40—forcing the Ravens into a timeout with 5:31 remaining.
The Ravens countered with their own 7–0 run as Queens committed three turnovers, cutting the lead back to 49–47 with 2:11 to play.
With the game down to a single-possession margin and the clock winding, White found Hodzic at the top of the key, and the rookie calmly buried a clutch three-pointer to push Queens ahead 52–47 with 32 seconds remaining.
Franklin Pierce responded with two free throws at the 19-second mark, but White sealed the victory with two free throws of her own, securing Queens' first home win of the season, 54–49.
Post Game Quote:
Head Coach
Travis Ponton: "It was great to get a win in our home opener! I know our girls were excited to finally play in front of the home crowd, and it was awesome to see a pretty packed house here. Our defense really set the tone, and that effort carried us throughout the game. You add the numbers on the offensive glass and points in the paint, and that added up to a win at the end. We really settled down in the 2nd half and showed some growth, which is exactly what you want to see as the calendar turns to December. We are right back to it at home tomorrow against a tough team, so we have to be locked in and ready to work, but super proud of our team today."
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Bryant tallied a career-best 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, adding three rebounds and one steal.
- Awaka stuffed the stat sheet with her fourth straight double-double, posting 11 points, a season-high 15 rebounds, six steals, three blocks, and one assist.
- White contributed six points along with four rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
- Hodzic added six points, a career-high six rebounds, and one assist.
- Ukaegbu recorded a season-best 11 rebounds to go with four assists, four steals, and four points.
NEXT GAME:
Head coach
Travis Ponton and the Knights conclude the Knights Thanksgiving Invitational on Sunday, November 30, as they take on the Saint Anselm College Hawks. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.
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