MARS HILL, N.C. – Coming off its first loss of the year, the Limestone College women's basketball team rebounded nicely with its second 90-point game of the season in a 97-73 nonconference win at Mars Hill University on Tuesday, November 2 at Stanford Arena.  
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Limestone 97, Mars Hill 73
Records: Limestone (3-1), Mars Hill (1-5)
Location: Stanford Arena
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Senior Jasmine Richardson (Talladega, Ala.) scored a game-high 23 points
• Senior Keidra Smith (Mebane, N.C.) tallied her third double-double of the season, recording 10 points and 10 rebounds
• Senior Aliya Ruffin (Apex, N.C.) finished with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field
• Junior Taylour Hunter (Easley, S.C.) added 11 points and seven assists
• Senior Aleyah Chivers (Kansas City, Mo.) chipped in a career-high 12 points off the bench
• Limestone went 36-of-75 (48%) from the floor and 10-of-30 (33%) from long range
• The Saints dominated in the paint, outscoring the Lions 48-16 in the lane

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Following a slow start in each of the past two games, the Saints came out of the gates firing on all cylinders as they knocked down five straight buckets to open the contest. Richardson started the scoring with a triple before Ruffin tallied five points to put Limestone in front, 12-2, just 2:28 into play.
 
Mars Hill would rattle off seven straight points to make it a one-possession game, but a three-point bomb by sophomore Jayla Morrow (Tucker, Ga.) and three straight long range strikes from Richardson powered a 16-0 counterattack to close the period as Limestone pulled ahead, 28-9, at the end of the first.
 
Second Quarter
 
The scoring run would continue for the Blue and Gold early in the second as Richardson scored on back-to-back layups to extend the margin to 23 points less than 30 second into the quarter. Following a pair of free throws by the Lions, Limestone pushed the lead to 38-13 with 7:10 left on a jumper by Morrow.
 
Mars Hill's Brooke Vilcinskas scored eight points to fuel a 12-2 run for the home team, closing the gap to 40-25 with 3:44 remaining, but the Saints countered with a 13-2 stretch to end the half. Chivers scored five points, including a three-point play, during that span as Limestone led 53-27 at the break.
 
Third Quarter
 
A layup by Ruffin early in the second half gave Limestone its largest lead to that point, 55-27, but the Lions responded with a 12-3 spurt to close the gap to 19 a couple minutes later. However, Richardson's old-fashion three-point play would spark a 9-0 run as the visitors regained a 28-point cushion.  
 
Leading 67-43 with less than three minutes to play in the third, the Blue and Gold went on a 14-3 surge down the stretch to open up an 81-46 advantage. Chivers and Ruffin connected on back-to-back three-balls while Morrow chipped in four points and a pair of dimes to help Limestone build a 35-point lead.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
The Lions refused to go away quietly as they opened the final frame with a 9-2 stretch to trim the margin to 83-55 with 6:09 left. Chivers would then add an inside score on the next possession as the Saints regained a comfortable 30-point advantage midway through the period.
 
Late in the game, senior Christian Washington (Fort Washington, Md.) and freshman Cameron Martin (Gibsonville, N.C.) would both dial long distance while senior Wil Fadeus (Sunrise, Fla.) added a pair of inside scores as Limestone moved on to collect the 97-73 decision.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Leading by three early in the contest, Limestone opened up a comfortable margin behind a 20-0 run over the final 5:30 of the first quarter and the first 25 seconds of the second quarter.
 
NOTABLES
 

• The Saints have now won six straight against Mars Hill, improving to 9-20 in the all-time series
• Limestone won for just the third time on the road against the Lions
• Smith registered her third straight double-double
• The Blue and Gold has reached the 90-point plateau twice in four games this year
• The Saints scored 90 or more points a total of six times all of last season

 
UP NEXT
 
After playing its first four games on the road to open the season, Limestone will open up the 2017-18 home slate when it hosts Erskine College at the Timken Center on Monday, November 27 at 5:30 p.m.