FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA – The Emmanuel Women's Basketball team hosted Belmont Abbey College this evening in conference action. The Crusaders came into the evening 9-2 in conference, but it was the Lions who controlled the pace of the game from the start. At the half, the Lions led the Crusaders, 36-20. Belmont Abbey bounced back in the third quarter and used an 18-4 run in the fourth quarter to take the lead and earn the 63-58 victory. With the loss, the Lions fall to 10-8 on the season, 5-7 in conference play.

The Lions came out on fire in the first quarter, outscoring the Crusaders 19-2. Hannah Harris got things started with a layup for Emmanuel, but Natalee Goff connected on three from beyond the arc to lead the Lions with 11 points in the quarter. In the first, the Lions shot 47% from the field, connecting on 4-8 from beyond the arc. 

Emmanuel continued to control the pace of play in the 2^nd quarter, quickly pushing their lead to 22-2 on a three-pointer by Julie Azeltine. The Crusaders cut the Lions lead to 11 with 6:14 to play, but the Lions responded with a three-pointer and a jumper from Carmen Cabello-Rivera to push Emmanuel's lead to 18 points with 4:13 to go in the half, 30-12. The Lions closed out the half with a jumper from Kate Jackson and another three-pointer from Goff to make it 36-20 Lions at the break. 

In the third quarter, the Crusaders began to mount a comeback, cutting the Lions lead to 12 points with 6:08 to go, 41-29. The Lions responded with another three from Goff and made free throws by Naomi Roberts and Jackson to make it 47-29, Lions with 4:38 to play. The Crusaders closed out the quarter strong to cut the Lions lead to nine, 54-45. 

In the final quarter of play, the Crusaders continued to make a run. Back-to-back buckets from Belmont Abbey cut the Lions lead to 3, 54-51 with 8:28 to play but the Lions answered with a layup from Goff and free throws from Roberts to push their lead back to seven, 58-51 with 6:15 to play. With 2:10 to go, the Crusaders tied the game up at 58-58 and closed out the game on a 5-0 run to earn the win, 63-58. 

Natalee Goff led the Lions with 20 points on the night, connecting on 5-6 from beyond the arc. Kate Jackson and Naomi Roberts ended the night in double figures, each scoring 12 points with Jackson adding 11 rebounds and 5 assists.

Next up, the Lions will host Erskine College on Tuesday at 5PM. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.