Box Score Belmont, N.C. – The Erskine Flying Fleet (10-9, 8-5) got a double-double from Naomi Stuger (Marietta, GA, Kell High School), her fourth straight, but lost to the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College (11-8, 7-6) 83 to 80 tonight in Conference Carolinas women's basketball action at the Wheeler Center.
 
The clock decided the final outcome as the game featured 21 lead changes and 7 ties, including 16 lead changes in the first half.  When the clock reached zero for the first half, Erskine led by three at 38 to 35.
 
After the lead exchanged hands several more times, Erskine built their largest lead of the game to seven with six minutes remaining.  Leading by three, senior Tara Potter (Charlotte, NC, Bandys High School) scored off a pass from fellow senior Andrienne Bannerman (Wilmington, NC, Pender High School) and Kristin Giles (Union, SC, Union County High School) stole the ball for an easy layup to put the Fleet up by seven.
 
With no lead proving to be safe, Belmont Abbey came back to retake the lead at the two minute mark off a layup by McKenzie Owen and stretched it to three points after causing a turnover on the Fleet's next possession.
 
With the clock ticking down, Giles her fourth 3-pointer of the game to pull the Fleet back to within two points.  The Fleet quickly fouled but the Crusaders' Morgan Midkiff converted both free throws to extend their lead back to two possessions.
 
When time expired, the Crusaders held the lead at 83 to 80 to earn the victory.
 
Giles came off the bench to lead the Fleet in scoring with 20 points.  Stuger scored 15 points and grabbed 10 boards to earn her fourth consecutive double-double. 
 
For the Crusaders, Midkiff tallied a career-high 33 points to lead all-scorers.  McKenzie Owen tossed in 20 points while pulling down 10 rebounds. 
 
After playing the last four games on the road, Erskine returns home to host the Southern Wesleyan University Warriors this Wednesday.  Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.