FLUSHING, N.Y. – In a game that saw 10 lead changes and eight ties, sophomore forward
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) erupted for her tenth double-double of the year with a career-high of 30 points and 23 rebounds as the Queens College women's basketball team defeated the visiting Roberts Wesleyan University Redhawks inside Fitzgerald Gymnasium in East Coast Conference play Friday evening.
Trailing by five, 52-47 with 2:12 left in the third quarter, the Knights used a 19-3 over the next 7:53 minutes to put the game out of reach as Awaka led all scorers with a career-best 30 points, while the rookie duo of point guard
Arianna Lopez (Newburgh, N.Y.) and classmate guard
Sajol Thornhill (Ashburn, VA.) combined for 25 points to earn a 77-66 victory over the Redhawks.
With the win, the Knights move to 4-6 in ECC play and take an one game lead for the final and sixth ECC postseason spot. Friday's victory also earned the Knights their second straight ECC series victory over the Redhawks. Queens has won the last four meetings over Roberts Wesleyan dating back to January 19, 2024.
GAME RECAP
The first quarter saw six lead changes and three ties as both sides matched each other shot for shot.
With the Redhawks leading 5-4, a quick 5-0 run from Lopez and Awaka put the Knights ahead 9-5 with 5:23 to go before the visitors responded with a 6-0 run to take an 11-9 lead with 3:23 left in the stanza.
Trailing 13-12 by the 1:29 mark, a jumper from rookie forward
Autumn Simon (Bellport, N.Y.) would see Queens close out the first quarter on a 5-2 run and take a 17-15 lead into the second quarter.
Back-to-back steals from Awaka would see Queens maintain a four-point edge on two separate occasions before the Redhawks responded and tied the game at 21-21 with 6:52 to go.
As a three-pointer saw Roberts Wesleyan take a 24-23 lead with 4:59 remaining in the second stanza, a jumper from rookie guard
Ashley Chio (North Vancouver, Canada) started a 9-2 run and helped Queens take a 32-26 advantage into the locker rooms at halftime.
The third quarter would be an explosive one as both sides combined for 50 points on 18-of-31 shooting.
Behind Chio and Awaka, Queens extended their run to 13-4 as they held an eight-point edge of 36-28 with 8:33 left in the third.
However, the Redhawks would respond with an 11-1 run from the 7:45 mark to the 6:25 mark to take a slim lead of two points, 39-37.
A second chance opportunity from Awaka would break the field drought as the sophomore forward recorded six straight points to keep her side in the game and tie the game at 43-43 with 4:44 left in the stanza.
The Redhawks went on a 9-4 run to take a 52-47 lead with 2:12 left before Queens held the Redhawks scoreless over the final two minutes of the third quarter and went on a 9-0 run to take a 56-52 lead into the final 10 minutes of the contest.
Using their momentum to end the third quarter, the Knights led by Thornhill would extend that run to 11-3 as Queens took their largest lead of the game of 12 points, 67-55 with 4:09 left in the contest capped off by Awaka converting a conventional three-point play and recording a career-best 30 points in the contest.
Over the final 3:06 of the contest, the rookie trio of forward
Chinyere Ukaegbu (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Lopez, and Thornhill would ice the game at the charity stripe as Queens completed the ECC sweep over Roberts Wesleyan Friday night.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Awaka recorded her 10th double-double of the year and seventh straight since January 12 with a career night recording 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting, 8-of-10 from the charity stripe, 23 rebounds, four steals, one block, and one assist.
- It is the sophomore's first 30 points and 20 rebounds game of her career.
- Awaka tied a career-best 11 made field goals for the third time this season, all three performances coming against ECC opponents.
- Awaka also recorded a career-best eight made free throws overtaking the previous best of seven made tied earlier this season against Molloy on December 7, 2024.
- The 30 points are the most by a sophomore in a single game since Brianna Davis recorded 31 points against Mercy University last season on January 31, 2024.
- The 23 rebounds are tied for the second most in a single season since Gizelle Luke recorded 23 against Molloy on December 8, 1987, and Jennifer DiChiara against Concordia on January 14, 2009.
- The 23 rebounds are the most by a sophomore in program history overtaking the previous best of 20 set by DiChiara against New York Tech on February 23, 2008.
- Lopez tallied 13 points, two rebounds, and one steal in the contest.
- Thornhill recorded 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting to go with three steals, three assists, and two rebounds.
- Ukaegbu recorded eight points, five rebounds, and three steals in the contest.
NEXT GAME
Continuing ECC play, the Knights head to Buffalo, N.Y. for a two-game road trip beginning on Friday, Feb. 14 against D'Youville University Saints. The Knights are looking for a series split and maintain their sixth seed over the Saints. Tip-off is 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).
