MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (Dec. 8, 2007) – The Saint Francis University women's basketball team jumped out to a 14-point lead in the first half of Saturday's Northeast Conference opener at Robert Morris, but were out-scored 31 to 19 in the second period, falling to the defending league champs, 67-53, at the Sewall Center.

“Offensively, we played well in the first half,” said SFU head coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl, whose team entered the half down, 36-34. “We've had the same problem three games in a row. We need to learn to play with a lead, which is something these players aren't used to doing.”

The Red Flash couldn't have looked much better in the game's first four minutes, jumping out to a 14-0 lead, before the Colonials got on the scoreboard with an Angela Pace jumper at the 15:43 mark.

Saint Francis was able to match Robert Morris, blow-for-blow, for the remainder of the opening period, before 11 second-half turnovers and poor rebounding caught up with them in the second half.

Ironically, the Flash went on to out-rebound the Colonials, 36-25, and shot 40-percent from the field for just the third time this season – a deceptive stat when broken down by half. SFU shot a red-hot 51.9-percent in the first half, before shooting just 26.1-percent for the remainder of the contest.

Starring for Saint Francis was senior Emily Bollinger (Westminster, Md./Westminster) (Westminster, Md./Westminster) who recorded the first double-double of her career with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Sophomore Britney Hodges (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal) (Dayton, Oho/Mount de Chantal Academy) led the Flash in scoring for the sixth time this season with 13 points.

RMU's Chinata Nesbit led both teams with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Saint Francis (3-5, 0-1) has a ten-day layoff before traveling to Bucknell on Tuesday, December 18.