LORETTO, Pa. (Jan. 31, 2009) – Led by freshman guard Brittany Lilley (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) the Saint Francis women's basketball team extended their winning streak to four games with an 80-75 victory over the Bryant Bulldogs at DeGol Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Lilley had 20 points on the afternoon, leading a Red Flash team that had five players finish in double-digits for the second consecutive game and for the third time this season. Senior forward Whitney Robinson (Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont) (Fairmont, W. Va./Fairmont) had one of her best efforts of the season, finishing with a season-high 11 points.

It took a full 40 minutes for the Red Flash to secure their victory, as the game was a battle from the start. In the end the lead would change hands a total of 15 times, with the Flash coming out on top.

"It was a fast-paced game, which is where we want to play, to be honest," said head coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl. "We feel we have speed and depth, and that will help us out over the forty minutes of the game."

Kelsey O'Keefe gave the Bulldogs, who will join the Northeast Conference in the 2012-13 season, a 2-0 lead 53 seconds into the game. Lilley came back with a lay up to tie the game at 2-2, and advantage would flip-flop from there.

With 10:36 remaining, O'Keefe sunk a three-point shot to put Bryant up by six. After the Red Flash fought back, Bulldog Cara Johnson hit another three-pointer to again put Bryant up by six points with little more than seven minutes left to play.

The Bulldogs came back from the break ready to fight, and Johnson tied the game with a quick lay up 40 seconds into the final period. As in the first half, the lead went back and forth numerous times, with Lilley tying the game for the sixth time on a free-throw with 13:20 left to play.

Fifteen seconds later, Lilley gave the Flash a one-point lead by sinking a three-point shot. Allison Daly (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) hit another less than thirty seconds alter to build the lead to four.

Saint Francis increased the lead to six with a lay up by Robinson. Leach hit a jumper to put them up 63-55 with 9:18 remaining in the game.

Jamie Campbell sunk two free-throw shots as the Bulldogs shrunk the deficit to three points. But Lilley was on the case, making a lay up to put the Flash up by five. Johnson was sent to the free-throw line for Bryant and was able to come away with two, making the score 68-64.

The Flash found themselves in danger when Johnson put up a lay up, and the Flash's lead slipped to just one. Britney Hodges (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal) (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal) hit a three-pointer, putting the score at 77-73 with two and a half minutes to play.

With just 29 seconds left, Hodges was sent to the free-throw line and came away with two points. O'Keefe hit a lay up to shrink the lead to four, but Hodges was sent to the line again with seven seconds remaining, this time coming away with a point to secure the 80-75 victory for the Flash.

Saint Francis kept up their hot shooting, making 63 percent of their field goals in the second half and finishing the day at 50 percent. They were 38.5 percent from beyond the arc and 68.8 percent at the line.

Leach put up 19 points for the Flash, and Hodges finished the afternoon with 14 points and six assists. Daly had 12 points to round out the players in double-digits.

Lilley led the team in rebounding, just missing out on a double-double with 8 boards. The Red Flash out-boarded the Bulldogs 35-32, and outscored them in the paint 40-28. The Flash were able to score 11 points on the fast-break, while allowing Bryant to fast break only once.

Johnson led the Bulldogs in scoring with 25 points. O'Keefe also factored into the scoring with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Bryant finished the game shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 84.6 percent from the line.

With the victory, the team bettered their record from last year and has nine games left to play in the regular season. After the game, Hodges spoke to reporters about the difference between last year's team and this year's group.

"We're more athletic," she said. "We have more depth in our bench, so it doesn't take just one or two people – we have a whole collective unit. We're more confident. We feel like we can play together more, and we've gotten used to each other."

The Red Flash, who moved into fifth place in the NEC, will remain in town to host sixth-place Monmouth University in a crucial match up on Monday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at DeGol Arena.