Women's Basketball 1/12/2009 6:53:30 PM

Red Flash Downed by Pioneers 76-64 Despite Solid Start

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (January 12, 2009) – Despite holding their opponent scoreless for the first 6 minutes of the game, the Saint Francis women's basketball team couldn't keep up the strong defense and fell to the red-hot Sacred Heart Pioneers 76-64 on Monday evening at the William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield, Conn.

The Red Flash fall to 3-12 overall and 2-3 in the Northeast Conference. They return to DeGol Arena, where their record is 2-3, to play host to NEC foe Central Connecticut State on January 17 at 1 p.m. They team will remain in Loretto for a match up with Wagner College on January 19 at 7 p.m.

Saint Francis got off to a hot start, with Allison Daly (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity)'s (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) three-pointer starting the scoring off. The Flash quickly took a 7-0 lead and kept the Pioneers scoreless until Khalia Cain made a lay up with 14:01 left to play in the first half.    It took another 6 minutes for the Pioneers to make their comeback and take a 13-12 lead on a lay up by Callan Taylor.

The Red Flash struck back on a lay up by Janie Killian (Verona, Pa./Penn Hills) (Verona, Pa./Penn Hills).   Another lay up and a free throw shot by Kaitlin Sowinski put the Pioneers up again, only to have the lead stolen on another three-pointer by Daly.

SFU's hot defense suddenly cooled off near the end of the first half. A Sowinski jumper gave SHU an advantage they gradually built upon, and the Red Flash went into the locker room for half time down by 10.

The Flash's strong defense made another appearance in the early minutes of the second half, as Saint Francis went on an 11-0 run for the first three minutes of the half. The run started with a free throw by Brittany Lilley (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) and included three-pointers by Daly and Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) and gave the Red Flash a 38-37 lead.

Alisa Apo scored the Pioneers' first points of the half with 16:33 left to play, and then hit a three-point shot to give the lead back to SHU. Daly's free throws and a lay up by Killian tied the score at 42-42 with 12:54 left to play in the game. Another three-pointer by Apo put the Pioneers ahead for good, and SHU increased their lead, ending the game at 76-64.

Sowinski led the Pioneers with 18 points and 5 blocked shots. Apo put up 15, including 3 three-pointers. Taylor, with 14 points, was the leading rebounder with 9 boards.

Lilley, putting on one of her best defense performances of the season, also led the team offensively with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Britney Hodges (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal) (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal) chipped in with 15 points and 8 assists. Daly's 4 three-point shots put in her double-digits, as she finished with 14 points on the night.

The Flash again improved on their rebounding, and held the Pioneers to just 5 offensive boards. SFU out-rebounded SHU 42-36 overall.

Saint Francis finished the game shooting 36.8 percent from the field, and had some trouble at the foul line where they went 8-of-14 for 57.1 percent.    For the first time all season, the Red Flash bench was held scoreless, outscored by the Pioneers 11-0.

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