CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The 2009-2010 Conference Carolinas opening contest for both Queens(2-1/0-1) and Limestone(3-0/1-0) was a fight to the end with the Saints winding up on top 77-70.

 The game featured just one lead change and three ties throughout the forty minute duration. Queens opened play with an 8-0 run and that would be the largest lead until the 2:55 mark in the first half when they again held an eight point advantage. The game was close with Limestone keeping Queens within five at the most.  Despite adding three to the eight point lead, they ended the half with an eight point advantage, 35-27.

The second half was much of the same until Limestone's Tryon Evans sank a three pointer with 11:11 left on the clock to take a three point lead. Limestone slowly opened up to a nine point lead, but the Royals reeled the Saints back in and came within three with just under 90 seconds to play.

The Saints used another three point bucket by Evans and a pair of free throws from Stewart Clark and Jarrell Douglass to keep the win out of reach for Queens.

Queens had strong performances turned in by Andre Lockhart (St. James, Barbados, Coleridge and Pany) with 17 points, Reggie Hopkins (Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook) with 14 points, Daniel Bailey (Irmo, S.C., Hammond ) with 13 points and Devon Seaford (Charlotte, N.C., Hope Christian Academy) added 12. Around the glass Antonio Stabler (Garner, N.C., Wakefield) led Queens with five rebounds while also adding five points.

Douglass led all scorers with 22 and finished with 10 rebounds for the only double-double of the contest. Evans finished 14 points, nine came from three-pointers.