GREENSBORO, N.C. - A pair of career-highs from two Spartans guards wasn't enough on Friday, as UNCG women's basketball (0-3, 0-0) comes out on the wrong side of another tight contest, this time against Belmont Abbey (1-0, 0-0). Senior CeCe Crudup and sophomore Amber Redmond poured in 22 and 11 apiece against the Crusaders, but saw their team fall by a final of 63-60 on the evening. 

UNCG took off running in the early stages, putting on one of their best offensive displays of the season in the first quarter. The Spartan offense poured in 20 points against the Crusaders in the opening 10 minutes, led by eight and seven from Crudup and Redmond respectively. Both sides would shoot 8-for-17 in the first however, cutting the Spartans' lead to just two points after the first break.

Belmont Abbey continued to shoot the ball well in the second, adding another 20 onto their total to grab a 38-34 lead just before the half. Making her first appearance for the Spartans this year, junior transfer Chatori Tyler started to make her presence felt during that second quarter, hitting a pair of threes to help keep her team stay within two possessions of their opponents. 

The Spartans came out of the halftime break determined to make up points, scoring six unanswered to take back the lead two-plus minutes into the second half. UNCG's defense forced seven turnovers in the third, as BAC was able to score just two buckets during the period altogether, but six made free throws kept the Crusaders within striking distance of their hosts.

The final term was the determining factor, as UNCG's offense began to slow in the remaining 10 minutes. Despite holding a three-point lead, the Spartans mustered just eight points to close out the fourth, allowing BAC to overcome its deficit and take a five-point lead with just under three minutes remaining. 

Crudup added six points in the last quarter to finish with her new career-best, hitting a pair of threes in the final minute of the contest. The guard's efforts from beyond the arc wouldn't be enough however, as the Crusaders' work inside allowed the visiting side to hold onto the 63-60 victory.

>> Crudup also led the Spartans with four steals and seven boards on the night, three rebounds away from her first career double-double
>> Despite their counterpart playing 27 minutes more, the Spartan bench outscored the Crusader subs 17-13
>> Hitting 5-of-9 for her career-high of 11 points, Redmond is averaging a team-best .588 shooting percentage since becoming a starter at the beginning of the year

Coming Up Next
The Spartans wrap up a three-game homestand on Monday hosting Division III NC Wesleyan in Fleming Gymnasium at 6 PM. UNCG has lost to the Battling Bishops just one time in their 20 meetings, holding onto a winning streak dating back to 1981. 

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