Box Score GAFFNEY, S.C. – Queens University of Charlotte struggled offensively in the first half of this evening's game with Limestone College shooting 7-of-26 (27%) from the floor. A 16 point deficit at the break proved to be too much as the Saints went on to win the conference game 65-50. The Royals are now 1-2 in the league and 3-9 on the year, while Limestone (10-4) remains undefeated in Conference Carolinas at 4-0.

The Royals played a much better second half outscoring the Saints 33-32 due in large part to improving their shooting percentage to 42-percent.

Shonice Pettaway (Walstonburg, N.C., Greene Central) gave the Saints a tough time in the post completing the game a rebound shy of notching her second straight double-double, finishing with a game-high 18 points and nine boards. Sarah Myatt (Show Camp, N.C., Southern Alamance) showed up big in the second half after getting into foul trouble early and sitting for most of the first half. She finished with 16 points and six rebounds. Shatonya Hardy (Fayetteville, N.C., E.E. Smith)added six points and five rebounds.

Tia Williams led Limestone with 17 points, eight rebounds, and five steals. Stephanie Hayes finished with 15 points and five assists, while Kaileigh West notched 10 points and six boards.

Limestone opened the game with a 7-0 run sparked by Williams. Shanel Sweet (Land O'Lakes, Fla., Land O' Lakes) put Queens on the board with 16:19 on the clock after draining a three-pointer from deep. Another jumper from Sweet a few minutes later would tie the game up at seven.

Limestone then surged ahead 19-11 five minutes later after junior guard Stephanie Hayes knocked down seven straight points, including a hard earned three-point play, to cap a 12-4 run. Queens would pull back to within 19-15 following a pair of inside scores by Pettaway, but the Saints used another triple from Williams and seven points by West to close out the half on a 14-2 stretch and carry a 33-17 advantage into the locker room.

Limestone would expand their margin to 20 points at the start of the second, but a three-pointer by Melissa Thomas (Havelock, N.C., Havelock) sparked a 12-7 run as the Royals cut the deficit to 54-39 midway through the half.

The Saints would put the game out of reach in the closing minutes as four points by Hayes and a layup by Ashley Robinson gave the home team a 62-42 lead with a shade under five minutes to play. Myatt scored five points down the stretch for Queens but it would not be enough as Limestone held out for the win.

Though out-rebounding the Saints 46-43, Limestone was more accurate in the paint scoring 36 points to Queens' 24. The Royals also had a hard time controlling the ball as the Saints converted Queens' 20 turnovers into 24 points.

Queens will next face Pfeiffer University on Wednesday, January 11 at the Grady Cole Center. The game is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m.