BELMONT, NC (January 13, 2007) – Belmont Abbey freshman guard Courtney Naquin led all players with 16 points, one of three Crusaders to reach double figures, and the Abbey limited Coker to 17.9 percent (10-56) shooting from the field as it posted an easy 71-28 win over Coker College this afternoon. The Abbey improves to 6-7 overall and 3-4 in the CVAC, while Coker falls to 3-10 overall and 1-5 in the CVAC.
Along with Naquin, senior guard Jeanette Johansson poured in 13 points to go along with six assists, and sophomore center Ebone Johnson recorded 10 points and a team-high six rebounds.
The Abbey, which shot 40.3 percent (25-62) from the floor, never trailed in the contest as it opened the game on a 9-3 run through the first 3:37. Coker only made five field goals in the first half as it never cut the lead to any fewer than ten points after the initial run. With the Abbey up 15-5 with 12:51 left, it outscored the Cobras 19-9 through the rest of the half to take a 34-15 lead into the break.
The second half was all Belmont Abbey, as it outscored Coker 37-13 in the stanza, including a 25-8 run through the first 12:01 to open up a 38-point advantage at 61-23 with 7:59 left. After five unanswered Coker points, the Abbey scored the final ten points of the game in the final 6:36, as it held Coker without a point in that span, as it cruised home with a 71-28 victory.
Naquin converted five of her 11 field goal attempts, including five three-pointers in ten tries to go along with five rebounds and one assist. Johansson and freshman guard Kelsey Daniel tied for the game-high with six assists apiece. The Abbey out rebounded Coker 47-39, including 16 offensive rebounds, with Daniel posting three of her five rebounds on the offensive glass.
Belmont Abbey is back in action Monday at 5:30 when it goes on the road to face