The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team cut a 14 point deficit down to just four with 1:04 to play, but a Limestone free throw with 39 seconds left followed by an Abbey turnover on its next possession sealed a 56-51 Lady Saints win this evening at the Timken Center. The win keeps Limestone unbeaten in Conference Carolinas play at 9-0 as it moves to 15-4 overall, while the Abbey drops to 8-9 overall and 4-3 in Conference Carolinas.

A Maria Young free throw with 3:05 to play extended the Limestone lead to 54-40, but the Abbey rallied back on a 10-1 run over the next 2:24 to chop the Lady Saints lead down to just four with 1:04 to play.

Melisa Foures started the jaunt with a pair of free throws. Five seconds later, Limestone's Lauren Pace hit the second of two free throws to move the lead back to 13, and it would be the last points for the Lady Saints until Young's free throw with 39 ticks left.

At the 3:07 mark, Foures hit the first of two free throws to cut the lead to 12. Limestone turned the ball over on its next trip down the floor, and Candace Fox buried a three-pointer to cut the lead to nine at 55-46 with 2:21 to play. It was the first time the Abbey dropped the Limestone lead to single digits since the 9:45 mark.

Limestone missed a layup on its next trip down the floor, and Paula Regalado grabbed the rebound as she was fouled. She converted both free throws to slice the deficit to seven at 55-48 with 1:40 to go.

Limestone again missed a chance on its next possession, and Caitlyn Ranson grabbed the rebound and swished a three-pointer with 1:04 to go to close the lead to four at 55-51, but the Abbey did not score again.

Foures fouled Young on the inbounds, and Young hit the second of two free throws to widen the gap to 55-51 with 39 seconds left.

15 seconds later, an Abbey turnover was collected by Limestone's Ashley Robinson, who ran out the clock to seal the win.

The two teams were tied at 27 at the half after the Abbey held the lead for much of the stanza, holding an advantage as high as eight points. Ahead 23-16 with 6:36 to play, the Lady Saints closed the half on a 12-4 run to tie the game at intermission.

The Crusaders led just once in the second half, as Fox hit two free throws with 14:48 to play to move the Abbey ahead by just one point.

Regalado posted a double double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, converting six of 14 field goal attempts, and seven of eight from the free throw line, with an assist and a steal in 32 minutes. She was the only Crusader in double figures as they shot 34 percent (16-47) from the field.

Limestone also shot 34 percent (18-53) as Stephanie Hayes recorded a double double with 10 points and ten rebounds. Young led the Lady Saints with 18 points.