Tigerville, S.C.—The North Greenville women’s basketball team used a strong defensive effort to hold Emmanuel College to 35.5% shooting and Krisceda Cotton booked her first double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds, as the Crusaders escape with a 65-58 win over the Lions.

Also scoring in double digits for NGU was Christina Carlis who racked up 17 points. Carlis was also 12-12 from the fre throw line.

NGU’s defensive effort forced 21 turnovers stifling the Lions on the offensive end of the floor. The Crusaders turned the ball over just 15 times.

The Lions held a slim lead for most of the first half and led by as many as five. NGU stormed back and took a 2 point lead with three second left but a last second heave from Lions guard Ashley Skelton gave Emmanuel a 31-30 lead heading into intermission.

The lions shot just 31.4% from the field in the first half while NGU was 12-28 from the field for a 42.9% average.

The Crusaders came out strong to start the second half and used a 19-2 run to take a 16 point 49-33 lead with just 11 minutes left.

Emmanuel kept fighting and eventually cut NGU’s lead to 5 with 26 second left, but four straight Christina Carlis free throws sealed the win for NGU in the rematch of last seasons NCCAA South Regional Championship.

The Crusaders improved to 2-1 on the season with the win over Emmanuel and are 1-0 in this years NCCAA classic. NGU will wrap up the two day tournament tomorrow with an 8pm tipoff with local rival Southern Wesleyan.