In a contest in which both teams shot a combined 26 percent, the Conference Carolinas leading Limestone Saints outscored Belmont Abbey 30-18 in the second half to earn a 49-33 win this evening at the Wheeler Center. Limestone moves to 11-2 overall and 8-1 in Conference Carolinas, while the Abbey drops to 6-7 overall and 5-4 in Conference Carolinas.

The two teams combined to make just 31 of 118 shots as Limestone finished with a 30 percent (19-62) output while the Abbey converted just 12 of its 56 shots (21 percent). Limestone held a 19-15 lead at halftime as it made just seven of 32 shots (21 percent) to the Abbey's six of 26 effort (23 percent).

Limestone's Tia Williams led all scorers with 17 points to go along with nine rebounds. Maria Young added 10. Danielle Dixon led the Saints with 10 rebounds.

Belmont Abbey was paced by freshman Morgan Midkiff's 13 points. Caitlyn Ranson, McKenzie Owen and Melisa Foures all pulled down eight rebounds as the Crusaders totaled 50.

Limestone led 19-15 at the half and started the second half on a 6-0 run to move its lead to ten before a 9-0 Abbey spurt closed the deficit to one. Midkiff opened the flurry with a three-pointer, followed by a Foures layup, a Brianna Johnson jumper and capped off by a running layup from Midkiff, which trimmed the score to 25-24 Limestone with 11:51 to go.

That was as close as the Crusaders would get as the Saints responded with a 17-4 run to extend their lead to 14 at 42-28 with 4:02 to go. All four of the Abbey's points came from the free throw line as the Abbey did not convert a field goal for eight minutes following Midkiff's layup that closed the lead to one. Belmont Abbey converted just three field goals in the last 11:51 as Limestone's lead grew to 16 on two Williams free throws at the 1:15 mark, which was the final points of the game.