The Red Flash got off to a strong start defensively, as they held the Golden Eagles scores for the first three minutes of the game. Britney Hodges (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal) (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal) scored the first points of the season less than a minute in, while Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) put up the next six to give SFU an 8-4 lead over Marquette.
The Flash's high pressure defense worked from the floor, but also contributed to the 10 fouls the team racked up in the first half. With 12:30 remaining, Sarina Simmons went to the free-throw line, followed by Jessica Pachko. The duo put up four points to give the Golden Eagles a 17-12 lead with nine minutes remaining.
After starting out shooting in the 40s for the first minutes of the game, Saint Francis ended the half shooting just 28.1 percent from the field, compared to Marquette's 43.3 percent. The Golden Eagles went on a 17-7 scoring run to end the half. A last second three-pointer from Courtney Weibel gave Marquette a 34-19 lead going into halftime.
The second started off with Janie Killian (Verona, Pa./Penn Hills)'s (Verona, Pa./Penn Hills) first points of the season, just two minutes in. Allison Daly (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) hit her first three-pointer of the season, after making 51 in 2008-09, but the Flash still trailed 38-24 with 16 minutes left in the game.
Unfortunately, things didn't get any better for SFU in the second half of the game. The Golden Eagles went on a 10-0 scoring streak that started with 15 minutes left in the game, which was ended when Kelsey Caruthers (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) (Conestoga, Pa./ Penn Manor) sunk two free-throws.
However, Marquette started right where they left off and took a 36-point lead with five minutes remaining in the game. Shene Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade Julienne), playing in her first collegiate game, made a free-throw to break up the scoring.
Quinessa Johnson (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) put up two points, while Hodges made two free-throw shots. A last second three-pointer from Johnson settled the score at 74-38 in favor of the Golden Eagles.
Hodges led the team in scoring with eight points and four assists. She sits 30 points shy of her 1000th career point. Leach had a team-high five rebounds, as the Flash were out-rebounded 45-35 by the Golden Eagles.
Leach and Daly tied for six points, while Johnson had five. Daly also made the team's only blocks, with two.
Fleming had four steals on the afternoon.
Lauren Thomas-Johnson led Marquette with 14 points, while Jocelyn Mellen put up 10. The Golden Eagles shot 47.4 percent from the field.
SFU will return home to host former high school stand out Elena Delle Donne and the Delaware Blue Hens on Tuesday at DeGol Arena. Tip off is set for 7 p.m., and admission is free for all veterans or active military members.
