BOX SCORE
BALTIMORE, Md. (Dec. 21, 2011) – The Saint Francis women's basketball team improved to 5-5 on the season with a gutsy, 69-67, win at Coppin State on Wednesday. 

Three Red Flash players scored in double figures, led by Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle)' 21, as SFU put on its strongest offensive showing in three games.  Saint Francis shot 46.3 percent (25-for-54) on the evening and held its own on the boards in an otherwise messy game that saw both teams combine for 62 turnovers.

Williams also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds on the night.  Both teams finished with 37 boards.

“This wasn't a pretty game – sometimes you get that before Christmas break – but you take it, you move on, get some rest and head out to a tournament,” said Flash head coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl, who watched her team improve to 2-0, all-time, against the Lady Eagles.

Both teams fought to final buzzer in a physical contest that featured 10 ties and 13 lead changes.

After a Williams layup to open the second half, a series of Red Flash turnovers allowed the Eagles to score 11 straight points to take a, 47-44, lead.  During that same span, SFU missed four field goal attempts, while Coppin State racked up three steals.

Williams stopped the bleeding with a layup at the 15:45 mark.

Three-and-a-half minutes later, a Rebecca Keegan (Jessup, Pa./Valley View) layup resulting from great drive and dish by Rhonda Watts (Alabaster, Ala./Thompson) gave SFU its first lead in four minutes, 50-49.  But the real drama was yet to come.

With less than 90 seconds to play, an Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) free throw and a Nickia Gibbs (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) floater gave SFU a, 67-64, lead, but a Leola Spotwood field goal pulled the Lady Eagles to within one.  Gibbs and Williams each split a pair of free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

Gibbs and Hayward finished with 13 and 10 points, respectively.  Jeanie Manley led Coppin State with 18 points.  The Eagles shot 38.3 percent on the night.

The Flash shot 53.3 percent (16-of-30) in the first half en route to a 42-36 advantage at the intermission.  SFU led by as many as 10 late in the period after a 3-pointer by Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk), but the Lady Eagles reeled off four quick points in the final 32 seconds.

After a short break for the holiday, the Red Flash head west for a pair of games at the Delta Dental Holiday Hoops Tournament.  Saint Francis draws host Seattle on Dec. 29.