LORETTO, Pa (Dec. 21, 2009) – Three players in double figures just wasn't enough as the Saint Francis women's basketball team fell in the final minute of the game to in-state rival Duquesne 67-64 in the final game before Christmas on Monday night at DeGol Arena.

The battle was close and tough, as the two teams tied the scored up ten times.  The lead changed hands 19 times before ending up in the hands of the Dukes.

After going 5-for-5 on three-pointers on Thursday, it was fitting that Britney Hodges (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal) (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal) scored the first points of the game on a three from the left corner before Allison Daly (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) (Harrisburg, Ohio/Trinity) shot a three from the right corner, putting the Red Flash up 6-4 less than three minutes into the first.    A jumper from Hodges and a layup from Shene Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade Julienne) gave SFU a commanding 10-4 lead in the first few minutes.   A steal from Quinessa Johnson (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) led to a 12-4 lead with just under 15 minutes left.

However, the Dukes battled back with Johnstown's own Samantha Pollino, who put up four points as Duquesne took a 13-12 lead just two minutes later.  Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) hit a three and two free-throws to put SFU back in the lead at 17-15.  Numerous times throughout the first half, Fleming put up nearly impossible lay-ups, at one point putting the Flash ahead 22-18 with 9:29 left to play in the first half.

A lay-up Pollino put the Dukes behind by just two with 6:48 remaining in the first half, and another lay-up by Keri Pryor tied the game at 24-24 soon after.  The Dukes kept on going, taking just their second lead of the night at 28-24. 

Leach and Brittany Lilley (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) helped SFU to cut into the deficit, but it was Hodges who tied the game up 30-30 with under five to go in the half.  A steal by Johnson turned into a lay-up by Daly, breaking the tie.    A three-by Pryor erased SFU's lead and put the Dukes up by one with under a minute to play.  However, Johnson went to the free-throw line for the one-and-one and came away with two, taking back the advantage.  Pryor hit another three before Leach scored a lay-up to put the score at a 36-36 tie for halftime. 

The Dukes started the second half off with possession of the ball, but turned it over on a traveling call without scoring.  Leach then put up a lay-up for the first points of the half, breaking the tie.  However, Pryor nailed a three from the corner to take back the lead.  A thereby Daly then gave the Flash a tight-43-42 lead with a little over 15 minutes left to play. 

A great rebound by Allison Smith (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) off of a missed free throw turned into a three from Leach, stretching the Red Flash's lead to four points.  Duquesne took the lead back, but a lay-up and ensuing free throw by Kia Gibbs (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) got it back.   Gibbs gave the Red Flash the lead again on another lay-up with 11:49 remaining. 

Pryor was able to tie the game up again at 55-55 on a three with less than nine minutes remaining in the half, and the Dukes went up 57-55 soon after.   After another huge rebound from Smith, Daly scored on a fast break to take a slim 59-57 lead.  However, the Dukes again battled back to tie the game up.  

Pollino hit a free-throw to break the tie, but missed the second to take just a slight advantage.   Fleming showed her athleticism, coming from nowhere to grab a rebound and send it over to Hodges for a three to take the lead.   Pollino tied the game up at the free-throw line with just 90 seconds remaining in the game. 

Leach went to the line and came away with a point, as Hodges grabbed the rebound but was unable to make anything happen.  Kelly Britcher gave the Dukes a 67-63 lead on free-throws to take the win. 

Leach ended the night with a team-high 19 points as the Red Flash shot 33.8 percent from the field overall after shooting 41.2 percent in the first half.  Hodges ended the night with 14 points, and Daly finished with 10.

Pollino led Dukes with 21 points, 18 of which came in the first half.  Pryor ended the night with 18 points.   Pollino also had nine rebounds, with Pryor grabbing eight as well.

Johnson was the Flash's leading rebounder with 10, followed by Fleming with eight as SFU lost the battle of the boards 67-63 to the Dukes.  Hodges led the team with five assists and three steals. 

Following the Christmas break, Saint Francis will travel to Daytona Beach to participate in the Hatter Classic at Stetson University.  They will play Stetson at 5:30 on December 28 and will take on the winner of the Buffalo/American game the next day.  After a day of rest, they will play the University of South Florida on the afternoon of December 31.