HAMDEN, Conn. (Jan. 31, 2011) – Three Red Flash players scored in double figures, paced by 23 from Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace), as Saint Francis turned back Quinnipiac, 77-64, in a critical midseason Northeast Conference basketball game at the TD Bank Sports Center on Monday.
“We stayed focused for 40 minutes tonight,” said SFU head coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl. “That's what it's going to take from here on out. I thought our kids gave a great effort tonight. I'm very proud of them for getting this 'W' on the road and it's a great way to finish this trip.”
Both teams entered the game tied for second place in the league standings however, the Flash win coupled with a Robert Morris loss to Sacred Heart pulled SFU (13-9; 8-2 NEC) into a first-place tie with the Colonials.
Allison Daly (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) scored 11 of her 16 points in a back-and-forth first half, during which both offenses converted at a 40 percent clip from the floor. Saint Francis, several times, built leads of four and five points in the period but couldn't pull away.
Quinnipiac, which never led by more than a pair, held its final lead of the game at the 9:05 mark of the first half. The Flash would go into the intermission holding onto a 36-30 edge.
The SFU offense rolled into the second half, opening up advantages as large as 15 points while shooting a red-hot 51.7 percent from the floor. The Red Flash lead hovered around 10 points for most of the half.
The Bobcats, on the other hand, struggled to overcome the Flash defense while hitting on only 11-of-33 field goal attempts in the period.
In addition to Leach and Daly, Brittany Lilley (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) also notched a double-digit scoring total with 10 points. She also dished out 10 assists to earn her second double-double of the season. Every one of SFU's eight players to see action in the game scored.
“[Brittany's game] was huge,” Robinson Furchtl said. “Double-digit assists as a point guard usually means that your team is playing pretty well. That was a nice comeback game for her.”
Kari Goodchild scored a career-high 20 points for the Bobcats.
The win was the first for Robinson Fruchtl's squad in the TD Bank Sports Center in three tries dating back to the 2007-08 season. The Red Flash now return home to take on Bryant at noon on Saturday.
The afternoon's game will also mark Hall of Fame Day in Loretto. Among the inductees present will be Jenny Przekwas, the winningest coach in program history; the NEC's all-time leading scorer, Jess Zinobile and the 1995-96 women's basketball team, which was the first of Saint Francis' 10 NEC championship squads.
“I really encourage everyone to come out on Saturday,” said Robinson Fruchtl. “We're really thrilled to have all of those ladies back and we really hope to get a win for them.”
