FLUSHING, N.Y. – Looking to conclude the home portion of their 2024-2025 schedule on a high note, the Queens College women's basketball team was led by sophomore
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) who recorded her 11
th double-double of the year as the Knights completed the East Coast Conference sweep over the visiting St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans inside Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
Awaka recorded a team-high 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with 12 rebounds while defensively the Knights held the Spartans to just four made field goals in the second half to earn the 50-36 victory.
The Knights improve to 10-14 and 5-9 overall. With two ECC games remaining on the slate, Queens needs to win both games and hope Molloy University loses to College of Staten Island to earn the sixth seed.
GAME RECAP
The first quarter saw four lead changes and one tie before the Knights ended the final 2:20 of the stanza on a 6-2 run to take a 13-12 lead into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, the visitors would continue to keep the game within one possession, 21-19 by the 5:31 mark before the Knights put together a 9-6 run to end the quarter and take a 30-25 lead into halftime.
In the second half, both teams shot below 30.0%, however, it would be the Knights' defense that would come out big as they held the Spartans to four made field goals on 18.2% shooting while forcing 15 turnovers to complete the series sweep over the Spartans.
It is the Knights' first sweep over the Spartans since the 2016-2017 season.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Awaka led the way with her 11th double-double of the year recording 13 points and 12 rebounds to go with two steals and one block.
- Rookie forward Chinyere Ukaegbu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded eight points, nine rebounds, one block and two assists in the contest.
- Rookie guard Ashley Chio (North Vancouver, Canada) tallied eight points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists.
NEXT GAME
It's a two-game road trip to conclude the regular season as the Knights head to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Feb. 26 as they match up against the Firebirds of the University of the District of Columbia. Tip-off is set for 5:30 pm.
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).
