PITTSBURGH (Dec. 22, 2010) – Despite four players with double-digit scoring totals the Saint Francis University women's basketball team was unable able to upend Duquesne, which improved to 9-2, falling to the Dukes, 84-69, at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

Saint Francis (5-6) was led by Allison Daly (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) with 14 points with Alexandra Williams close behind with 13. Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) and Nickia Gibbs (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) scored 12 and 11 points, respectively. Gibbs' total was a season-best.

The Dukes were paced by Samantha Pollino, who tallied 19. Three Duquesne players reached double figures in the contest.

“I didn't think we had enough intensity, honestly, throughout the entire game,” said Flash head coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl. “It was very up-and-down like a rollercoaster tonight and that's something we have to address. We have to get some rest and come back after the Christmas break.”

“We need to pick up our intensity and player better defense. You're not going to win many games giving up 80-some points.”

The Red Flash offense, per usual, got off to a hot start, shooting 62.5 percent (5-for-8) from the floor in first seven minutes, while jumping out to a 13-9 lead. Then, after a pair of turnovers which allowed Duquesne to chip away at their deficit, Saint Francis went ice-cold.

SFU hit only one field goal – a three-pointer by Brittany Lilley (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) – in nearly nine minutes before a Leach jumper at the 5:25 mark jolted the Flash attack back to life.

Meanwhile, Duquesne took a 14-13 lead – their first of the game – 12:42 on a Kelly Britcher jumper and proceeded to ride a, 10-2, run to their largest advantage of the half, 27-18.

The Flash then went on a nine-point streak, capped by a Daly three at the 3:59 mark of the period that gave Saint Francis aback the lead at 28-27.

A late 9-1 run by the Dukes gave the home team a sizable advantage toward the intermission, but SFU scored the last four points of the frame to go into the half down, 40-36.

Despite an inconsistent offense in the first half, the Flash were saved by a strong showing from the free throw line. Saint Francis went a collective 11-for-13 from the stripe in the half.

After trading shots in the opening minutes of the first half, the Dukes used a 10-2 run to jump out to a 14 point lead.

A three-pointer by Leach stopped made the score to 66-55 but moments later the Dukes upped their advantage to 16 – their largest of the night. Saint Francis was unable to pull within 10 points for the duration of the game.

Saint Francis shot 39.0 percent (23-for-59) on the evening to the Dukes' 43.7 percent (31-for-71) performance.

After a brief Christmas break, the Red Flash return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 28 when they visit Syracuse for a 1 p.m. contest.