ROCK HILL, S.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dramatic momentum shift and a decisive advantage at the free-throw line, the Winthrop Eagles overcame a sluggish start to defeat the Queens Royals 75-69 in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Saturday.

A sparse crowd of 308 at Winthrop Coliseum saw the visiting Royals (2-2) explode out of the gate, building a commanding 21-10 lead after the first quarter. Queens’ early success was fueled by hot three-point shooting, connecting on 4 of 8 attempts from beyond the arc in the opening period. Ana Barreto and Magda Freire each hit a pair of threes to spearhead the early offensive outburst.

The game turned decisively in the second quarter, however, as Winthrop (2-2) outscored Queens 24-15 to seize a 34-36 halftime lead. The Eagles’ comeback was engineered by relentless defensive pressure and dominance in the paint. Winthrop forced 11 of Queens’ 27 total turnovers in the period, converting them into easy scoring opportunities. The Eagles outscored the Royals 30-17 in points off turnovers for the game and held a commanding 36-18 advantage in points in the paint.

Amourie Porter was the catalyst for Winthrop, leading all scorers with 22 points. The 5-foot-10 guard from Glen Burnie, Maryland, also grabbed seven rebounds in 36 minutes of action. Her ability to attack the basket was a key factor in Winthrop’s overwhelming free-throw advantage; the Eagles attempted 35 free throws, making 24, while Queens went to the line just 14 times, converting eight.

Despite the loss, Queens was led by a pair of 17-point performances. Jermany Mapp, a 6-foot forward from Chester, South Carolina, scored her 17 points efficiently, adding five rebounds. Ana Barreto, a 6-foot guard from Lisbon, Portugal, also tallied 17 points, playing the entire 40 minutes and contributing four rebounds and two assists. Breah Franks provided a strong interior presence for the Royals, scoring 12 points and pulling down seven rebounds.

The third quarter was a tightly contested affair, with Winthrop outscoring Queens 21-17 to maintain a 55-53 lead heading into the final frame. The Eagles’ Mya Pierfax, who finished with 15 points, and Cori Lard, who added 13 points and three blocks, provided crucial scoring to keep their team in front.

In the fourth quarter, Winthrop managed to hold off several Queens rallies. The Royals, who shot a respectable 47.2 percent from the field and 47.8 percent from three-point range for the game, could never fully close the gap, largely due to their turnover issues and Winthrop’s continued success at the charity stripe. The Eagles sealed the victory in the final minutes by making critical free throws, including two from Porter that extended the lead to two possessions with under 30 seconds remaining.

Statistically, the game was a tale of contrasting strengths. While Queens was the more efficient shooting team from the field and from deep, Winthrop’s extra possessions, generated by a 14-9 advantage in steals and 11 offensive rebounds, proved to be the difference. The Eagles also shared the ball more effectively, recording 14 assists to the Royals’ nine.

With the victory, both teams even their records at 2-2 on the young season. Winthrop will next travel to face South Carolina on Wednesday. Queens will look to get back on the winning track when they visit South Carolina State on Thursday.