WILMINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and squandered opportunities, the UNC Wilmington Seahawks defeated the Queens University of Charlotte Royals 69-59 in a non-conference women’s basketball contest Sunday at Trask Coliseum.

The Seahawks evened their season record at 3-3, while the Royals fell to 3-4.

Despite an almost identical number of possessions and field goal attempts, UNC Wilmington leveraged a decisive advantage in ball security and free throw shooting to secure the victory. The Seahawks committed only 10 turnovers while forcing 20 from the Royals, converting those miscues into 19 points. From the foul line, UNC Wilmington capitalized, making 15 of 22 attempts, while Queens struggled profoundly, converting just 5 of 12.

The game was a defensive struggle from the outset, with both teams shooting an identical 6-for-18 from beyond the three-point arc. The difference came in efficiency and execution, as the Seahawks posted an offensive rating of 97.9 points per 100 possessions compared to the Royals’ 84.6.

UNC Wilmington guard Rori Cox, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, delivered a standout performance, leading all scorers with 20 points. The 5-foot-7 junior added eight rebounds, five assists and a game-high five steals, orchestrating the Seahawks’ offense and spearheading their disruptive defense.

Her backcourt mate, Kylah Silver of Greenville, N.C., was equally formidable, pouring in 22 points and grabbing five rebounds. The 5-foot-10 Silver was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Kate Hollifield, from Shelby, N.C., contributed 10 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Seahawks.

For Queens, the interior presence of Hannah Hicks and Brenae Jones-Grant kept the Royals competitive. Hicks, a 6-foot-1 forward from Cleveland, Ohio, recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, complementing her stat line with five blocked shots. Jones-Grant, a 6-foot-1 forward from Plainfield, N.J., narrowly missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.

The Royals dominated the glass, particularly on the offensive end, where they hauled down 17 rebounds leading to 18 second-chance points. However, they were unable to overcome their own offensive inconsistencies and the relentless pressure from the Seahawks’ defense.

Queens guard Ana Barreto, from Lisbon, Portugal, filled the box score with 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists but was hampered by seven turnovers. Jermany Mapp of Chester, S.C., added 12 points for the Royals.

After a tightly contested first half, UNC Wilmington began to create separation in the third quarter, using a 12-4 run to build a double-digit lead. The Seahawks’ ability to generate points in transition off Queens’ turnovers proved to be the sustaining factor, as the Royals could never mount a sustained run to close the gap in the final period.

The game’s outcome aligned with the pre-game projections from Interstat’s ELO system, which gave UNC Wilmington a 75.6 percent probability of victory.

Queens will look to rebound on the road against Western Carolina on Dec. 7. UNC Wilmington travels to face West Georgia on Wednesday before a matchup at Winthrop on Dec. 7.