SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A pair of upsets highlighted the 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship quarterfinals on Friday. Lees-McRae's hot shooting led to a win over Shorter  University before Chowan University used a late run to advance.

No. 5 Lees-McRae def. No. 4 Shorter 72-63
Lees-McRae connected on six triples in the first quarter, closing the stanza on an 18-2 run to take a 21-12 lead. The run continued in the second half as the Bobcats scored 18 straight points to take a 27-12 advantage in the opening two minutes. Lees-McRae held Shorter without a point for more than seven minutes and without a field goal for nearly nine minutes. Shorter made a triple to beat the halftime buzzer, but Lees-McRae led 43-31 at the break after shooting 64.7 percent from three-point range in the first half.

Shorter chipped away at the deficit in the third quarter, pulling within 50-48 with two minutes remaining. However, the Bobcats connected from long range to take a 53-48 lead into the final period. Lees-McRae continued that run early in the fourth quarter and opened up a 66-51 lead before the Hawks started to work their way back. Lees-McRae held off the run and took the contest 72-63.

Lees-McRae made 15 three-point shots and were led by 21 points and six rebounds from Nadiya Hairston. Amiya Redus led Shorter with 24 points.

Lees-McRae takes on top seed Francis Marion University at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday.

No. 6 Chowan def. No. 3 Belmont Abbey 53-50
In what was a low-scoring defensive affair, Belmont Abbey held a 10-6 lead after the first quarter and 24-20 at the half after scoring six of the final eight points. The Crusaders extended their lead to 39-32 in the third quarter and led 42-37 going to the final quarter.

Chowan came back and evened the score at 48 and again at 50 before taking a 52-50 lead with one minute remaining. That marked the first Hawk lead since four minutes into the first quarter. The Hawks made some defensive stands and converted a free throw to take the contest 53-50.

Ayanna Rutleedge and Desiree Askew led Chowan with 12 points apiece while Nyeisha Savage posted 10 points and 12 rebounds. Leigha Dennison and Sofia McNabb led Belmont Abbey with 11 points each.

Chowan will face second seed Barton College at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 

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2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship
First Round – Sunday, March 1 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
No. 10 Emmanuel def. No. 9 King, 70-67 BOX SCORE
No. 11 Ferrum def. No. 8 UNC Pembroke, 74-71 BOX SCORE
No. 7 Young Harris def. No. 12 Mount Olive, 50-48 BOX SCORE

Second Round – Monday, March 2 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
No. 4 Shorter def. No. 10 Emmanuel, 59-40 BOX SCORE
No. 5 Lees-McRae def. No. 11 Ferrum, 60-48 BOX SCORE
No. 6 Chowan def. No. 7 Young Harris, 64-58 BOX SCORE

Quarterfinals – Friday, March 6 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
No. 5 Lees-McRae def. No. 4 Shorter, 72-63 BOX SCORE | LEES-McRAE PRESS CONFERENCE
No. 6 Chowan def. No. 3 Belmont Abbey, 53-50 BOX SCORE | CHOWAN PRESS CONFERENCE

Semifinals – Saturday, March 7 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
No. 5 Lees- McRae vs. No. 1 Francis Marion, 5:15 p.m.
No. 6 Chowan vs. No. 2 Barton, 7:30 p.m.

Final – Sunday, March 8 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of Semifinal 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal 2, 4:00 p.m.