Virginia Beach, VA - The Regent University Women's Basketball team began the holiday weekend playing the first game of an exciting double-header game against Carolina University. This was the first head-to-head match-up of the season between the two teams, but they are very familiar with each other as they are both members of the NCCAA South Region.
The first quarter was one of the closest for the Royals all season. Senior Courtney Rowley (Lusk, WY) put Regent on the scoreboard first with her signature catch-and-shoot three from the left wing off an assist from senior point guard Senior Lyriq Reyes (Bogota, NJ). Rowley, who currently sits in third place for three-pointers made in Royals history, is averaging 12.6 points per game, with nearly half of those points coming from beyond the arc. Regent went to the sideline after the first quarter buzzer with an easily surmountable seven-point deficit.
As the second quarter began, the Royals consistently found their way to the free throw line. While Regent has struggled this season from the field, they've averaged nearly eleven points from the line. This quarter offered no exception to that statistic, as the Royals sank six free throws of their own in an attempt to bring the score closer. Regent and the Bruins battled all ten minutes of the quarter, but the scoring margin remained the same as the first quarter, and as the Royals headed to the locker-room they found themselves trailing 50-37.
Freshman Kaitlyn Russell (Fredericksburg, VA) started the third quarter strong by converting two layups in the post that put Regent over the 40-point threshold. The Royals also brought the defensive pressure into the second half and picked up Carolina in a full court press. Regent is currently averaging nearly six steals a game to complement their defense. The Royals held the Bruins to just five points for the vast majority of the quarter. However, Carolina found a way to push ahead of Regent heading into the fourth quarter.
Rowley, once again, opened the fourth quarter with another three from the top of the key. She would nearly notch another double-double with her performance. Even though the Royals were unable to mount a comeback in the final 10 minutes, they showed that when the offense is clicking, they can find the open player for the score. However, as the final buzzer sounded, Regent would fall to the Bruins by a final score of 100-56.
Rowley finished the game with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Sophomore My'Angel Carter (Taccoa, GA) had another double-double, with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The Royals will be back in action on Monday, January 20th, when they host Christendom College in an early afternoon doubleheader. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00pm.
