Belmont Abbey captures the 2025 Atlantic Casualty Insurance Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship crown

3/9/2025 3:25:57 PM

TOURNAMENT PAGE | BRACKET

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Belmont Abbey College captured the 2025 Atlantic Casualty Insurance Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship title, defeating top seed Francis Marion University. The second-seeded Crusaders scored a layup from Leigha Dennison with six seconds remaining to top the Patriots 63-62.

The Belmont Abbey defense was suffocating in the first half as the Crusaders held Francis Marion to 27.3 percent shooting from the floor. Belmont Abbey used a 20-4 run to take a 24-7 lead and led 24-9 after the opening 10 minutes. The Crusader advantage swelled to 27-9 as the Crusaders started the period with a triple. Francis Marion slightly cut into the deficit the remainder of the quarter, but Belmont Abbey led 36-23 at the break.

Belmont Abbey extended their lead to 38-25 before the Patriots started to chip away at the deficit. Francis Marion scored eight straight points to pull within 38-33. The Patriots again pulled within five, but the Crusaders led 53-45 going to the fourth quarter. Francis Marion used a 10-0 run over 1:48 to take a 59-57 lead with 3:15 remaining. A Kiana Lee triple gave Francis Marion a 62-59 lead with 1:47 remaining. On the other end, Peyton Nation made a pair of free throws to pull the Crusaders back within one. Following a Crusader stop, Leigha Dennison made a layup with six seconds remaining to give Belmont Abbey a 63-62 advantage. The stout Belmont Abbey defense forced a Patriot miss to take the contest 63-62.

Belmont Abbey wins their seventh Conference Carolinas tournament title and first since 2020-21.

The Crusaders earn the Conference Carolinas automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship. The field will be announced on Sunday, March 9 at 10:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.

2025 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship
All-Tournament Team
Kamryn Bates, Young Harris
Nyeisha Savage, Chowan
Riley James, Belmont Abbey
Kiara Croskey, Francis Marion
Leigha Dennison, Belmont Abbey
Kiana Lee, Francis Marion
Tournament MVP: Peyton Nation, Belmont Abbey

2025 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship
First Round – Sunday, March 2 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
No. 9 Barton 64, No. 10 Converse 56 (at No. 4 UNC Pembroke) Box Score
No. 8 King 57, No. 11 Lees-McRae 49 (at No. 5 Young Harris) Box Score
No. 12 North Greenville 54, No. 7 Emmanuel 45 (at No. 6 Shorter), Box Score

Second Round – Monday, March 3 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
No. 4 UNC Pembroke 84, No. 9 Barton 35 Box Score
No. 5 Young Harris 54, No. 8 King 47 Box Score
No. 6 Shorter 53, No. 12 North Greenville 36 Box Score

Quarterfinals – Friday, March 7 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
No. 5 Young Harris 75, No. 4 UNC Pembroke 67 (OT) Box Score | Young Harris Press Conference
No. 3 Chowan 57, No. 6 Shorter 52 Box Score | Chowan Press Conference | Shorter Press Conference

Semifinals – Saturday, March 8 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
No. 1 Francis Marion 78, No. 5 Young Harris 44 Box Score | Francis Marion Press Conference | Young Harris Press Conference
No. 2 Belmont Abbey 64, No. 3 Chowan 54 Box Score | Belmont Abbey Press Conference

Final – Sunday, March 9 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
No. 2 Belmont Abbey 63, No. 1 Francis Marion 62 Box Score | Belmont Abbey Press Conference | Francis Marion Press Conference