Lady Pirates Pick Up 66-47 Win Over Limestone

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Senior Lacey Willis scored 13 of her game-high 32 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, helping the Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball team extend a one-point halftime lead into a 66-57 victory over visiting Limestone on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena.

Willis and the Lady Pirates (4-1) led by just one at halftime, 23-22, but the reigning PBC Player of the Week went 6-for-9 from the floor, including a three-pointer, out of intermission to help AASU to a 19-7 run and a 42-29 lead with 10:43 remaining. 

Lindsey Holmes then hit back-to-back three-pointers to extend the lead to 18 points, 46-29, and AASU held off the Saints (2-2) for the victory, new head coach Matt Schmidt's first home coaching win at the helm of the Lady Pirate program.

Willis finished the day 15-of-21 from the floor and also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds in leading the Lady Pirates. It was her second 30+ point performance of her career as she hit for 35 at Lander on March 1, 2008. Junior Dartayvia Thomas collected 11 points and Kelly Versluis added seven points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots for AASU.

Limestone was led by Tierney Burdett, who came off the bench to record 19 points, and Blanca Gonzalez, who contributed 12 points and eight rebounds. 

The Saints shot just 23.7 percent from the floor (14-of-59), while AASU shot 40.3 percent (27-of-67). The Lady Pirates committed 16 turnovers in the first half, but cut that down after halftime, committing just six in the second half. Limestone did enjoy an advantage at the free throw line, hitting 17-of-25 free throws from the charity stripe, compared to just 9-of-14 for AASU.

The Lady Pirates open up Peach Belt Conference play on Tuesday, December 2, with a 5:30 p.m. contest at UNC Pembroke. Limestone returns to Conference Carolinas action with a 5:30 p.m. contest at Anderson on Tuesday, December 2.