WASHINGTON, DC. – Sophomore forward
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) and rookie guard
Sajol Thornhill (Ashburn, VA.) combined for 17 points in the fourth quarter rally but the Queens College women's basketball team were defeated by a buzzer beater three as the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds earned a 57-54 East Coast Conference victory Wednesday evening.
The Knights move to 10-15 and 5-10 overall. Wednesday's loss to the Firebirds and Molloy's victory over College of Staten Island eliminate the Knights from postseason contention.
GAME RECAP
Both sides would trade buckets in the early going with Awaka leading the way with five points as the Knights led by 7-6 at the 4:35 mark.
The Firebirds responded by using a 10-3 run to end the first quarter with a 16-10 lead.
The rookie duo of Hall and
Chinyere Ukaegbu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) opened the second stanza by scoring back-to-back buckets to get the Knights within two, 16-14 by the 8:08 mark. However, the home side answered with a 6-0 run to take a 22-14 lead by the 5:45 mark
Over the final four minutes of the second quarter, both teams combined for 12 points, but it would be the Firebirds that would take a 29-19 lead into the locker rooms.
In the third quarter, the young Knights squad would continue to battle back and forth as they continue to keep their deficit in single digits.
Trialing by 11, 38-27 at the 2:12 mark, rookie
Ashley Chio (North Vancouver, Canada) and Hall would combine for a 6-0 run as Queens got within five, 38-33 by the 1:28 mark.
As the Firebirds converted 1-of-2 free throws to extend their lead back to six, rookie
Arianna Lopez (Newburgh, N.Y.) and Thornhill would get the Knights within three, 40-37 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the opening four minutes of the fourth quarter, Awaka and Thornhill led the charge as the Knights got within two, 45-43 with 6:17 to go in the game.
The Firebirds would extend their lead back to nine points, 54-45 with 2:34 to go before Queens was able to cut their deficit down to four points, 54-50 with 1:50 to go in the contest.
Continuing to hold the Firebirds off the scoreboard, the Knights duo of Awaka and Thornhill kept the scoring going as they were able to tie the game 54-54 with 50 seconds left in the contest.
The Knights would draw an offensive charge with 29 seconds remaining before the Firebirds were able to get three seconds called on the Knights with 16 seconds remaining.
With the Firebirds in possession for the final shot, Queens would force a loose ball, but a jump ball call would favor the home side before the Firebirds hit the game-winning buzzer-beater three to defeat Queens and end their postseason hopes with a 57-54 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Awaka led the way with her 12th double-double of the year recording 19 points and 14 rebounds to go with two assists, one block, and one steal.
- Thornhill tallied 11 points, six assists, three rebounds, and one steal.
- Hall notched 10 points and three rebounds.
- Ukaegbu recorded seven points, eight rebounds, two blocks, two assists and one steal in the contest.
NEXT GAME
The Knights wrap up the 2024-2025 season in Staten Island, N.Y. on Saturday, March 1 as they match up against College of Staten Island. Tip-off is set for 1:00 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).
