Box Score Hickory, N.C.-- Limestone's Kalisha Hill's turnaround jumper went through the bottom of the net as time expired to give the Saints the 71-69 win over the Bears Wednesday night inside the Shu. The loss was the first home loss for Lenoir-Rhyne this season as the Bears started the season 11-0 at home. Blaikley Crooks had a career high 26 points in the losing effort. 

GAME INFORMATION:
Final:  Limestone 71, No. 14 Lenoir-Rhyne 69
Records:  Limestone (12-9, 7-4 SAC) , No. 14 Lenoir-Rhyne (18-3, 8-3 SAC) 
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Shuford Arena

STATS AND INFO:

• Including last year, the Bears had won 15 straight games inside Shuford Arena before tonight. 
• Limestone has won the last eight games in the series between the two programs. 
• Bears actually have not beaten Limestone since the Saints joined the SAC in 2020 
• LR has jumped to 4th in the Nation in turnover margin. Bears are a +10.20 in turnovers per game but the Bears were just +1 tonight.  
• This is just the second game the Bears have played against the Mountain Division. Bears have five games remaining including Saturday's contest against Mars Hill.
• Bears rose two spots in the WBCA Coaches Poll this week. LR jumped to No. 14 after wins over Catawba and Newberry last week. 

FIRST HALF:

• The teams played to an even 19-19 draw after ten minutes in the Shu. The Saints came out shooting 47% from the floor in the open quarter but the Bears used a late 8-0 run to head into the second quarter tied in the box score.
• Limestone opened their biggest lead of the half with a nine point lead with 6:25 left to go in the half. The Bears did cut the lead to 34-31 at the intermission. 
• The Bears were consistent shooting in the first half as LR shot 6-17 (35.3%) from the floor in each of the first two quarters.
• Crooks had 15 points in the first half as the junior hit 7 of 12 shots in the half. 
• Limestone's duo of Kalisha Hill and Quin Byrd each had double figures in the half. 

SECOND HALF:

• Bears came out hot in the second half scoring the first nine points to take a 40-34 lead with 8:11 left in the third quarter. 
• After the Saints tied it at 44-44 midway through the third quarter, the Bears closed the quarter on a 13-5 run to take an eight point lead into the final quarter. Brandi Hudson had nine of her fifteen points in the period to lead the Bears. 
• Bears maintained their eight point lead for majority of the 4th quarter but the Saints made one last run and scored on three straight possessions to tie the game at 64 apiece with 2:46 left. 
• After a three by Jalen Gathers and a layup and free throw by Byrd the game was tied at 67 with :20 seconds left but the Bears were whistled for a foul as Hill drained both free throws and the Saints took a 69-67 lead. 
• Harman came down and hit a layup with five seconds to tie it at 69-69 but Hill got one last chance and delivered. Hill caught the ball inside the lane and drained the basket as the buzzer sounded to give the Saints the 71-69 win. 

ABOUT THE SAINTS:

• Byrd finished with 22 points and added four assists 
• Hill'a game winning basket was her 20th point as the forward added six rebounds as well.
• Destiny Jackson and Amara Newsom each had four points and five boards for the Saints. 

ABOUT THE BEARS:

• Crooks topped her career high by two points as the junior scored 26 points and added six rebounds.
• Harman added 12 points and brought down eight rebounds.
• Hudson added 15 points and five boards while hitting five of six shots from the floor. Hudson also made all five free throw attempts.
• All five of the Bears starters played at least thirty minutes tonight. 

UP NEXT:  Bears will travel to Mars Hill for a 2:00 tip-off on Saturday.