GAFFNEY, S.C.- The Royals women's lacrosse team scored eight and held the NO. 4 Limestone Saints to eight goals in the second half of the Conference Carolinas contest this afternoon in Gaffney, S.C. Kelley Duffey (New Hope, Minn. , Robinsdale Cooper ) and Kelly Wrightson (Germantown, Md., Damascus ) each scored three in the 22-12 loss.

The first half was a trade of goals, one for Queens (3-10/3-5 CC), three for Limestone (10-1/8-1CC). The pattern broke during a 10 minutes span when Limestone scored seven straight. Caitlin O'Rourke ( Winter Springs, Fla., Winter Springs ) stopped the Saints run with a goal at the 4:07 mark. The half was closed out with a Saints goal with just eight ticks to go.

The Royals cut the lead in half with three goals to start the second stanza, 14-7. Limestone came back with two goals in 11 seconds and another one minutes later.  Queens kept battling, always finding a way to put the ball past goalies Brigid Milchling and Michaela Reynolds.

Queens' defense did their part, goalie Rebecca Markle (Hampstead, Md., North Carroll ) made nine save and Queens completed eight of 10 attempted clears.

Despite finding an offensive rhythm and shutting down the Saints offense, Queens had too much of a deficit from the first half to upset the home team.

In addition to her three goals Duffey had four assists. Limestone was led by Lauryn Wise with nine goals.

The Saints held the edge in shots, 46-22, ground balls, 14-9, and draw controls, 25-11. Markle made 17 saves in the contest while the Limestone goalies made four.

Queens will travel to Laurinburg, N.C., on Saturday to play Saint Andrews Presbyterian College. Earlier this year Queens fell to the Knights in a rainy, wet game.