Lady Saints drop opener to Mars Hill

Mars Hill College defeated Limestone 84-61 in women's basketball action on Wednesday night at the Timken Center.

Limestone starts the season with a 0-1 record as the Lions improve to 3-0.

Tierney Burdett scored a gamehigh 19 points for the Lady Saints. Blanca Gonzalez recorded 16 points and 5 rebounds.

Brittney Miller also reached double

scoring figures with 10 points. Whitney Brewton also posted five rebounds.

Lauren Pace had a team-high four assists.

Mars Hill's Jessica Blanford posted a double-double with 11 rebounds and 14 points. Shamia Terry just missed recording a double double with 11 rebounds and 9 points.

Brittini Young scored a teamhigh 18 points, as Bria Smith and Taylor Deal chipped in 13 points and 12 points, respectively. Smith also dished out four assists.

The Lions grabbed the lead right away in the first half and led by as many as nine points, 21-12. Limestone battled back to tie the game 31-31 with 1:54 left before halftime.

A good 3-pointer by Ariel Okunowo and free throws by Deal gave Mars Hill a 38-33 lead at halftime.

The Lady Saints came out strong in the second half, gaining a brief advantage in the opening five minutes after 3-pointers by Gonzalez and Miller, and another field-goal by Burdett.

However, the Lions regained the lead with 14 minutes left to play and never relinquished it.

Limestone converted 26 points from 26 Lion turnovers, while Mars Hill had 17 points on 18 Lady Saint turnovers.

Limestone will face North Greenville on Saturday, Nov. 22. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.