HICKORY, N.C. – Playing in the final game of 2018, the Limestone College women's basketball team closed out the year with its fifth straight win after collecting a 77-73 nonconference road win over Lenoir-Rhyne University on Saturday, December 29 at the Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Limestone 77, Lenoir-Rhyne 73
Records: Limestone (7-5), Lenoir-Rhyne (7-5)
Location: Shuford Memorial Gymnasium
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Senior Taylour Hunter (Clemson, S.C.) buried 22 points behind six three-pointers
• Junior Alexis Armstrong (Gastonia, N.C.) posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards
• Junior Jayla Morrow (Tucker, Ga.) added 12 points and three assists
• Freshman Niya Goudelock (Gaffney, S.C.) finished with 12 points and four steals
• Junior Schekinah Bimpa (Loganville, Ga.) recorded nine points and five steals
• Freshman Quin Byrd (Fountain Inn, S.C.) chipped in four points and four assists
• Limestone went 29-of-54 (54%) from the field and 10-of-22 (46%) from long range
• The Bears shot 26-of-68 (38%) from the floor and 10-of-25 (40%) from behind the arc

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
The Bears scored on their first possession of the day, but a steal and fast break layup by Goudelock highlighted a 6-0 spurt as the Saints grabbed an early lead a few moments into the contest. Senior Naomi Mayes (Joliet, Ill.) then knocked down a triple a few ticks later to give Limestone a 9-6 edge at the media.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne pulled to within 10-7 with 3:32 remaining, but a wide-open three-pointer by Hunter and a driving layup from Byrd powered a 6-0 Limestone run over the remainder of the quarter. Armstrong added a pair of free throws down the stretch as the Blue and Gold grabbled a 16-7 margin at the end of first.
 
Second Quarter
 
The scoring run continued for the Saints early in the second as Hunter dialed long distance before Bimpa got a bucket on the inside, pushing the lead to 21-7 with 7:48 left. The Bears nailed a three-pointer on the other end, but Goudelock hit a long range bomb as Limestone pulled ahead 24-10 a couple minutes later.
 
However, the Bears countered with a 13-4 stretch over the next three minutes to close the gap to 28-23 with 2:59 showing on the clock. Limestone would break the run though as Hunter hit another long three before Morrow added back-to-back midrange floaters as the visitors built up a 37-27 halftime advantage.
 
Third Quarter
 
Hunter hit from behind the arc for the Saints to start the third before Byrd drove the lane for two, staking the Blue and Gold to a 42-30 cushion with 7:34 remaining. Lenoir-Rhyne knocked down a three on the other end, but a jumper in the lane by Hunter and a fast break score by Goudelock sparked a 12-3 run.
 
Armstrong chipped in five points during that stretch while Goudelock added another triple as Limestone moved in front by 18, 54-36, with 4:16 left in the third. The Bears refused to go away quietly through as the home team used a 16-5 counterattack to close the gap to seven, 59-52, at the end of the third.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Morrow rattled home a three before another steal and fast break layup by Goudelock gave the Saints some breathing room, 64-52, just 45 ticks into the fourth quarter. A few moments later Hunter hit from long range – her sixth three-pointer of the game – to make it a 67-55 game with 8:23 left in regulation.
 
L-R continued to fight back though as an 8-2 spurt trimmed the margin to 69-63 a few minutes later, but a big bucket and a 1-of-2 showing at the free throw line by Bimpa pushed Limestone's lead back to eight with 4:36 remaining. The Bears would score six straight points, however, to close the lead to 72-70.
 
Hunter's jumper put Limestone back on top by four at the 1:15-mark, but Lenoir-Rhyne whittled the lead to 74-73 with 35 ticks remaining. However, Morrow would go 3-of-4 from the free throw line down the stretch before the defense came up with a big steal on an inbounds play to seal the 77-73 decision.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Limestone used runs of 11-0 and 12-3 to build up an 18-point advantage midway through the third quarter, but the home-standing Bears battled back to close to within 74-73 with 35 seconds left. The Saints made good use of the free throw line and a timely defensive play to hold on for the win though.
 
NOTABLES
 

• Consistency counts: Limestone has scored 78, 76, 76, 78, 76, and 77 points over its last six games – the team is 5-1 during that stretch
• Hunter has drilled 16 three-pointers over the last three games
• Armstrong tallied her second double-double of the season
• The Saints have connected on 10 or more three-pointers in five consecutive games
• Limestone has won three straight against Lenoir-Rhyne
• The Blue and Gold defeated the Bears in Hickory for the first time since December 1, 1984
• Head Coach Corey Fox posted his 293^rd career win in 450^th game coached

 
UP NEXT
 
The Saints will ring in the New Year when they welcome King University to the Timken Center for a Conference Carolinas matchup on Wednesday, January 2 at 5:30 p.m.