LORETTO, Pa. (Jan. 24, 2011) – Sophomore Shené Fleming (Dayton, Ohio, Chaminade-Julienne) scored a career-high 16 points to lead Saint Francis University to a 72-60 win over St. Francis (N.Y.) in women's basketball action at DeGol Arena on Monday evening.
The Red Flash played a strong defensive first half, limiting the Terriers (2-17; 0-8 NEC) to 25 points. Despite letting up somewhat in the second half, Saint Francis's Northeast Conference-leading offense provided ample support as SFU improved to 12-8 (7-1 NEC).
Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) (14), Alexandra Williams (11) and Brittany Lilley (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) (10) also scored in double digits for the Flash.
“At times we played some excellent defense,” said Flash coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl, who notched her 50th career victory. “The other night against Long Island we played great defense in the second half and we were looking to continue that and we did for a lot of the first half.”
Saint Francis feasted on 23 Terrier turnovers, converting them in 32 points.
Another major factor in the win was a complete effort on the boards by the Flash. SFU out-rebounded St. Francis (N.Y.) to the tune of 38-to-22, with 23 of those coming on the offensive glass.
“Our goal is to lead the conference in rebound; rebounding wins a lot of championships,” said Robinson Fruchtl. “If we rebound the basketball and limit the other team's second-chance opportunities, which we did tonight, it's going to be huge for us.”
Williams paced the dominant Red Flash effort on the boards with 10 to register her first career double-double.
The Red Flash were sluggish out of the gate in the second half but a pair of Lilley 3-pointers helped keep St. Francis (N.Y.) at bay. Saint Francis built leads as large as 23 in the second period despite an efficient Terrier offense that shot 59.5 percent (25-for42) on the evening.
St. Francis (N.Y.) managed to pull within 14 points on a Jasmin Robinson free throw with 10:12 to play. The Red Flash responded with a 12-to-2 run that made the score 66-43 and all but sealed the win.
After trading buckets early in the first half, the Terriers managed to stay within five or six points for most of the first 13 minutes of the game.
At the 7:19 mark, a Fleming layup up gave Saint Francis a then-game-high seven- point lead and the Red Flash never looked back. An 18-to-8 SFU run gave comfortable 37-23 advantage heading into the locker room.
The Flash win coupled with Long Island's, 65-61, win over Robert Morris and Quinnipiac's defeat of Wagner create a three-way tie for first place in the NEC.
The Red Flash visit Sacred Heart on Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest.
