GAFFNEY, S.C. - Cold shooting towards the end of the first period and at the start of the second half proved costly, as Anderson University women's basketball's upset bid against No. 15 Limestone came up short, falling 72-65 Saturday afternoon in nonconference action at the Timken Center.

The setback hands the Trojans their first loss of the season, after beginning the season with three straight wins, marking their best start since the 2007-08 season. The Saints, who entered the game ranked No. 4 in the weekly D2SIDA Media Southeast Region Poll, has won fourth straight contests and improve to 5-1 on the young season.

After posting at least three double figure scorers in each of the first three games this season, Anderson was led by senior sharpshooter Lesley Woods with 18 points, as she was the Trojan in double-digits. Woods equaled her career-high in 3-pointers made with six, while she moved ahead of former Anderson standout, Amy Davidson for fifth place on the all-time 3-pointers made list in program history. For the afternoon, Woods was 6-for-13 from behind the arc, including making her first four.

Sophomore guard Heather Jankowy followed Woods with three made 3-pointers as she closed the contest with nine points, while the trio of Jennifer Monroe, Alexis Dillard and Nakia Young each totaled eight points. Young and fellow guard, Sierra Simpson led the Black and Gold on the boards with seven rebounds apiece.

Limestone won the rebounding battle underneath the basket, 40-36, but the home side shined on the offensive side with 15 offensive rebounds, leading to 13 second-chance points. Leading the Saints in the scoring column was forward Celestra Warren as she went 6-for-11 from the field en route to a game-high 21 points. Teammates Ayshia McNeil and 2014 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, Jasmine Kearse, closed the afternoon with 15 and 11 points, respectively. Forward Alicia Brookins paced the Saints with nine rebounds, including six on the offensive end.

Anderson jumped out to early lead as it took its eventual largest lead of the game of six when Woods connected on her second trey of the game after coming off the bench at the 17:30 mark in the first period. Woods sank the 3-pointer at the 14:13 mark in the opening half, but Limestone responded and regained its lead when Maurissa Lester sank a 3-pointer to give LC a 21-20 advantage at the 11:19 mark.

After the lead changed on four consecutive possessions, Woods gave the Trojans a four-point lead with another 3-pointer at the 9:30 mark. AU was able to cling to its lead until Kearse recorded one of her three 3-pointers of the game with 6:02 remaining, as she pushed the score to 31-29 with 6:02 remaining.

AU's Jasmine Franklin evened the score with 4:03 left, but it would be the visitors' last points of the half as Limestone went on an 8-0 run to close the half. Four different Saints contributed to the run as Kearse headlined the spurt with a deep 3-pointer, making it a seven-point advantage. A free throw from Warren made the halftime score at 39-31.

Franklin scored the first points of the second half, but the Trojans faced their second scoring drought of the game when LC scored the next nine points, sending the deficit to 15 with 13:43 left in the game. Young broke the scoreless span with a jumper, ending Limestone's longest run of the contest.

Following the Young basket, senior center Jaclyn Moore gave Anderson some momentum with a traditional three-point play, while Woods followed with another 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to seven with just over 11 minutes remaining.

Anderson would make it a five-point game moments later when Jankowy added another 3-pointer just under the 10-minute mark in the period. Limestone's Precilla Hill answered with a jumper immediately following the Jankowy bucket, but Woods' final trey of the game made the score 53-49. Despite the momentum, the four-point deficit would be the closest Anderson would come for the remainder of the game.

After Warren dropped in a lay-up after the Woods' 3-pointer, McNeil and Kearse poured in back-to-back 3-pointers, giving Limestone a 12-point lead. AU created a late rally and brought the LC lead within four with 31 seconds remaining, but was unable to overtake the lead as the Saints went 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 27 seconds.

After shooting 50 percent (12-for-24) in the first half, the Trojans went 13-for-34 (38.2 percent) in the final 20 minutes, including a 1-for-6 start to the final stanza.

Anderson returns to South Atlantic Conference play on Wednesday when it heads to Brevard, looking to avenge a road loss to the Tornados a season ago. Tip-off from Boshamer Gymnasium is scheduled for 6 p.m.