BELMONT, N.C. -- The Anderson women's basketball team squared off against Belmont Abbey for the second time this season and the Crusaders used a hot shooting-hand to even the season series by edging the Trojans, 59-48, in Conference Carolinas action Thursday night at the Wheeler Center. The first meeting back in November saw Anderson break open a close contest with a 9-2 run early in the second half and go on to defeat the Crusaders 68-42, in the conference opener for each team. Guard Alexa Neal scored a game-high 17 points and handed out five assists in that contest. But tonight Anderson (9-8, 8-4 Conference Carolinas) dropped its third consecutive game, while Belmont Abbey improved to 10-7 overall and 8-4 in league play by winning its fifth straight game in the friendly confines of the Wheeler Center. The Trojans never led as Belmont Abbey opened the game with a 7-0 run fueled by a 3-pointer by Courtney Naquin and layups from Shayla Jackson and Asha Hardaway. Anderson trimmed the lead to two at 8-6, but the Crusaders answered with a 14-4 surge over the next five-and-a-half minutes to claim their largest lead of the half, at 22-10 with 6:52 remaining. An Anderson run trimmed the lead to six at 28-22 with 1:49 left, but the Crusaders used layups by Regalado and Jackson to push the lead back to eight with 37 seconds left. A Neal layup at the buzzer trimmed the Abbey's advantage to 32-24 at the half. The Crusaders held at least a six-point lead throughout the final stanza and led by as many as 12. Trailing 52-41 with 5:11 left, Anderson scored five unanswered points on a Maci Siniard jumper and a trey by Neal to cut the lead to six, but the Abbey responded with a game-closing 7-2 run to win 59-48. Anderson won the rebounding battle by a narrow 31-30 edge but shot just 31 percent from the field, while the Abbey shot 54 percent, including 50 percent in the second half, as junior forward Shayla Jackson led three Crusaders in double figures with 17 points. Jackson's 17 points led all players as she sank seven of 10 field goal attempts to go along with five rebounds, three steals and two assists in 35 minutes. Senior guard Courtney Naquin and sophomore forward Paula Regalado both finished with 10 points. Anderson was led by senior Shanice Wilson's 11 points, while Neal and Marci Siniard were next with eight points apiece. Neal also handed out for assists. Anderson plays the third game of its four-game road swing on Saturday when the Trojans visit Converse. AU defeated the Valkyries, 77-53, at home in early January. Tip-off at Weisiger Center is slated for 2 p.m. Box Score