Trailing 14-3 at the half, the Belmont Abbey women's lacrosse team outscored the third-ranked Limestone Saints 7-4 in the final 30 minutes, but Limestone's lead was too great as it raced past the Crusaders 18-10 this afternoon at Alumni Field. Limestone improves to 14-1 overall and 7-0 in Conference Carolinas, while the Crusaders drop to 6-8 overall and 3-3 in league play.

Limestone scored the first four goals of the game before Megan Patton halted the momentum with the first of her team-high four goals, but the Saints scored eight of the next nine to build their lead to 12-2. After a Rebecca Diggs goal, Limestone scored the two unanswered to take a 14-3 lead into the break. Limestone scored 14 goals on 19 shots in the first half.

In the second half the Abbey scored seven times on 14 shots and held Limestone to just nine. After the Saints scored three of the first four to begin the final 30 minutes, the Abbey closed the game by netting six of the last seven.

Patton led the way with four goals, while Katy Connery added three. Diggs, Molly Schaefer and Lindsay Connolly all had one each. Connolly posted two assists, while Connery and Lauren DiChiara each totaled one.

Limestone outshot the Abbey 28-20 and both teams had 23 ground balls. Danielle Ruffalo made nine saves in the cage.