Box Score Front Royal, VA – Prior to the projected snowstorm hitting the Hampton Roads area, the Regent University Women's Basketball team hit the road Tuesday to face Christendom College. It would be a pivotal game for the Royals as they looked to knock off the reigning USCAA National Champions and pick up their second road win of the season. It also was another opportunity for the Seniors to gain some momentum with only a few games remaining in the season.
Senior Lyriq Reyes (Bogota, NJ) took the opening tip and scored immediately on a fast break layup to start the first quarter. Regent would add more points as Junior Jasmeen Lemons (Houston, TX) converted one of two free throws for the three-point lead. Their advantage increased after Sophomore My'Angel Carter (Toccoa, GA) hit a short jumper, but the Crusaders had an answer with a long three-pointer. On the next defensive possession, Senior Oghosasse Osadiaye (Marion, MI) drew an offensive charge, which led to a Sophomore Shardae Williams (Fredericksburg, VA) underneath basket. Eventually, Christendom was able to take a three-point lead, but Carter trimmed it to one when she took a pass and drove to the basket for the score. However, as the quarter ended, the Royals would trail 15-9.
The second quarter began with an offensive put back by Carter to pull Regent to within four. The Crusaders, though, began a run to grab their largest lead of the game, but Williams slowed them down with a layup, which was followed by another Carter jumper. Christendom would eventually lead by double digits, until two free throws by Lemons cut it to eight-points. However, as the team headed to the locker rooms for halftime, the Royals found themselves behind 28-17.
Carter scored the first basket for Regent with a score off of an offensive rebound and then Williams found the basket as the third quarter started. However, Carter would eventually pick up her third foul and have to go to the bench early. A short jumper from Reyes continued the Royals scoring but the Crusader's drained a three-pointer and were suddenly ahead 37-23. A Reyes score trimmed the lead to 12-points and then to 10-points after two Lemons free throws, but at the end of the quarter Regent trailed 39-27.
Christendom opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, but Osadiaye grabbed an offensive rebound and then converted the put pack to stay within striking distance. On the next possession, Senior Courtney Rowley (Lusk, WY) muscled in for a basket and then Osadiaye, who was having her best offensive game of the season, would score again. A few plays later, Rowley hit her first three-pointer of the game and followed that with a short jumper the next time down the court. With 4:31 remaining in the game, Rowley faked a three-pointer and slipped past the defender for the score, trimming the lead to 51-41. Unfortunately, the Royals could not get any closer and would fall to the Crusaders by a final score of 54-43.
(Stats for the Game will be availability once received from Christendom)
Regent will be back in action on Saturday, February 22nd when they travel to Winston-Salem to face Carolina University.
