SPARKILL, N.Y. – The junior frontcourt duo of forward
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) and forward
Chyna Bryant (Bronx, N.Y.) powered the Queens College women's basketball team in East Coast Conference road action against the St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans inside Aquinas Hall.
Awaka posted her second consecutive double-double and 17th of the season, finishing with 12 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Bryant delivered one of the strongest performances of her career, recording her second double-double of the year with a career-best 16 points and 11 rebounds.
In a tightly contested matchup featuring five lead changes and one tie, the Spartans used a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away and defeat Queens by a final score of 81-62.
GAME RECAP
Bryant and Awaka sparked the Knights early, helping Queens build a 4-3 advantage at the 6:14 mark of the opening quarter. The Spartans answered with a 5-0 run to take an 8-4 lead midway through the frame.
Queens responded behind strong guard play from rookie guard
Enise Hodzic (Queens, N.Y.) and sophomore guard
Jaeda Hall (Saint Albans, N.Y.), who combined to even the contest at 8-8 with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter.
The Spartans quickly extended their momentum, opening the second quarter with back-to-back baskets to stretch the lead to 20-10.
Queens, however, countered with its most impressive stretch of the game. Balanced scoring and defensive stops fueled an 18-4 Knights run between the 7:41 and 3:03 marks, allowing Queens to reclaim a 28-24 advantage.
The Spartans regrouped late in the half, finishing on a 14-4 run to take a 38-32 lead into the break.
Queens remained within striking distance throughout much of the third quarter, trimming the deficit to eight at 50-42 with 4:39 to play. That would be as close as the Knights would get.
St. Thomas Aquinas erupted with an 11-0 run to seize full control, building a double-digit cushion the Spartans would not relinquish en route to the 81-62 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Bryant recorded her second career double-double, scoring a career-high 16 points while adding 11 rebounds and one steal.
- Awaka secured her 17th double-double of the season with 12 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks, three steals, and two assists.
- Hodzic contributed nine points, three assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
NEXT GAME:
Head coach
Travis Ponton and the Knights return home for their final home game of the regular season on Wednesday, February 25, when they host the College of Staten Island Dolphins in ECC play. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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