CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Lipscomb University women's basketball team shot 53.4% from the field and never let Queens University of Charlotte take the lead, as the Bisons defeated the Royals, 87-73, in an Atlantic Sun Conference contest Saturday afternoon from Curry Arena. 

Final Score: Lipscomb 87, Queens 73
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (Curry Arena)
Records: Lipscomb (12-5, 5-1), Queens (6-11, 0-6)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Queens was able to even the score on three separate occasions in the opening quarter, but they never claimed the lead. Tied at 13 with 4:15 left in the stanza, a 7-0 run by Lipscomb that started with a Molly Heard triple, gave Lipscomb the lead for good. 

Claira McGowan scored the final five points for the Bisons in the opening period to help extend the lead to 28-21 after one quarter of play. 

In the second, despite Queens putting up six of their 17 points up via second-chance opportunities, Lipscomb went 6-of-12 from the floor and knocked down a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line to maintain its lead, 49-38, at the break. 

Unfortunately for the Bisons, the Royals found a way back into it by forcing seven turnovers in the third, but Lipscomb's 16 of 19 points in the period came in the paint, as they extended the advantage to 68-51. 

Neither team had any advantage despite Queens outscoring Lipscomb 22-19 in the final quarter, but Lipscomb shot over 50% in each quarter and finished 31-of-58 (53.4%) to pick up the road win.

KEY STATISTICS
Claira McGowan matched a season-high 25 points on 7-of-14 from the floor with four shots from downtown. Additionally, she was perfect from the charity stripe, going 7-of-7. 

Molly Heard scored nine of her 19 points in the third quarter to help the Bisons pull away from the Royals. The junior knocked down 8-of-12 from the floor and added three offensive rebounds. 

Ainhoa Cea nearly missed a double-double with 17 points and nine boards, as she connected on 8-of-11 from the field. 

Bella Vinson was the fourth Bison in double figures, as she scored 13. 

HERD NOTES
Claira McGowan will look to join the 1,000-point club at home next week, as she is six away from achieving the milestone. Between Murray State (40) and Lipscomb (954), she has 994. 

McGowan posted her 50th career game with 10 or more points and her ninth with 20 or more. 

Despite having one more offensive rebound than the Royals, the Bisons used their second chance opportunities in a better light than their opponent. With 11 boards, Lipscomb converted that to 21 second-chance points. 

Lipscomb scored 40 or more points in the paint for the sixth time this season, scoring 42 of the team's 87 against Queens on Saturday. 

UP NEXT
After being away from Nashville for three of its last four games, Lipscomb will enjoy a weekend home stand this week, starting with a rematch with Central Arkansas on Thursday. The Sugar Bears handed the Bisons their only loss in the early stages of the conference schedule on Jan. 8. 

Tip in Allen Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m.