LORETTO, Pa. (Dec. 5, 2007) – Saint Francis University fell, 61-53, to the University of Akron on Wednesday night at DeGol Arena. The loss marked the second time in as many games a spirited second-half rally by the Red Flash ended prematurely, dropping SFU to 3-4 on the season.

Saint Francis weathered Akron runs of 11-0 and 16-0 and came back from as many 18 points down in the second half to pull within six points with 1:15 left in regulation. The Zips responded by hitting a pair of freethrows and adding a Rachel Green layup to end the Red Flash threat.

Sophomore Lauren Donahoe (Export, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) (Export, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) set the final, scoring the last two of her career-high tying eight points, with a jumper from the foul line.

In what head coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl termed 'a game of turnovers,' the Flashed coughed up the ball 22 times while shooting only 33.3-percent from the field.

“We were timid tonight and were probably letting their defense get to us,” said Robinson Fruchtl of her team's response to Akron's relentless half-court pressure.

“We can't seem to focus for 40 minutes yet.”

Their were a few positives in the game, however, as the Flash still managed to out-board the Zips, 42-37, and SFU managed to rebound from a forgettable night from the line four days ago versus Youngstown State by converting on all nine of their freethrow opportunities on the evening.

Sophomore Britney Hodges (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal) (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal Academy) paced the Saint Francis offense with 14 points; just two points shy of game-leader Sarah Tokodi of Akron.

Junior Whitney Robinson (Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont) (Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont) pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

“Whitney rebounded well for us,” said Robinson Fruchtl. “Especially in the second half.”

Robinson grabbed six of her boards in the second stanza.

Saint Francis returns to action on Saturday when they visit defending Northeast Conference champion Robert Morris for an early taste of league play. The Red Flash will then play three road, non-conference games before hosting the University of Dayton on January 2.