MATTHEWS, N.C. -- For the first time since 2019, the South Atlantic Conference Tournament was won by someone other than Lenoir-Rhyne as the Limestone Saints came away with their first SAC Tournament title. The Bears had won two straight league tournaments and saw their five-game SAC Tournament winning streak snapped as Limestone outscored LR 10-2 in the last 28 minutes of the game. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final:  #9 Limestone 14, #5 Lenoir-Rhyne 8
Records: #5 Lenoir-Rhyne (14-3), #9 Limestone (14-4)
Location: Matthews, N.C. | Sportsplex at Matthews

STATS OF THE GAME

• Bryce Reece got the scoring started with a goal just 1:43 into the game as the Bears scored first for the 13th time this season.
• However, the Saints had an emphatic answer. Limestone rattled off three straight from three different scorers to go up 3-1 with 5:56 left in the first quarter.
• Kyle Hatcher took a feed from Riley Seay to make it 3-2 after one quarter. 
• Trailing 4-2, LR began to flex their muscle with a 3-0 run to close out the half. LR held Limestone scoreless for the final 13:42 of the first half and Toron Eccleston and Myles Moffat (2) scored the final three goals of the half.
• LR made it 6-4 on Eccleston's second goal of the game at the 13:44 mark of the third quarter but it was all Limestone from that point on.
• The Saints would score four straight to go up 8-6 and held LR scoreless for over 18 minutes of game action.
• The Bears finally broke through on a goal from Tommy Aguilar to pull LR within one at 8-7 but the Bears would go cold again. Limestone scored six unanswered before LR broke the drought with a goal by John Paulus with just 1:14 to play.
• Zachary Terry had three goals for the Saints and Jason Thomfohrde had three goals and two assists. 
• Rob Pensabene suffered his first loss in goal but did make 15 saves. 
• Limestone held a 44-37 edge in shots and 29-17 lead in shots on goal. The Saints also dominated in ground balls, scooping 32 compared to just a season-low 22 from LR.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• This was a rematch of last year's SAC Championship game where LR won 14-11.
• LR is now 12-6 all-time in SAC Tournaments. 
• The eight goals are the second-least in a SAC Tournament game for LR.
• The Saints became the first team to win the tournament as the number five seed.
• Limestone won its first SAC title in program history after winning 11 tournament championships in Conference Carolinas. 

UP NEXT: The Bears will find out their NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday night at the NCAA Selection Show which will be streamed on NCAA.com.