BOX SCORE  |  POSTGAME

LORETTO, Pa. (Jan. 14, 2012) – The Quinnipiac Bobcats spoiled the 1,000th game in Saint Francis U. women's basketball history, shooting their way to an, 85-73, victory over the Red Flash on Saturday.

The visiting Bobcats (11-5; 3-2 Northeast) scorched the Saint Francis defense with a 60.8 percent (31-for-51) performance from the floor, led by junior guard Felicia Barron who tallied a game-high 24 points.  Two other QU players reached double-digit scoring totals.

“It was really a lack of defense tonight and it just got worse in the second half,” said head coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl.  “We need to create offense off of our defense and when we do that, we can be very good, but we're not all on the same page.”

“That's something we're going to have to improve upon.”

The Flash (6-10; 3-2 Northeast), on the other hand, shot just 35 percent in the first half and – with a 50 percent second half – managed a 42.6 (26-for-61) performance for the game.

Junior guard Rhonda Watts (Alabaster, Ala./Thompson) came off the bench to lead SFU with a career-high-tying 17 points.  Senior Sarah Thorn (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury East) and freshman Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) each chipped in 12 points.

One bright spot for the Red Flash came at the foul line.  Saint Francis converted on 13-of-16 opportunities, greatly improving on its rate of 66.4 percent entering the contest.

After a game-opening layup by Allison Smith (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest), the Bobcats went on an 8-0 run to erase their deficit.  The Red Flash briefly took the lead at the 14:04 mark of the first half, but Quinnipiac never trailed after that point.

QU held a, 38-81, edge at the half and managed to take control of the game in the second half.  Despite several promising Saint Francis runs that cut the margin to single digits midway through the second half, the Flash were never able to complete their rally.

Saint Francis returns to action on Monday when it hosts Sacred Heart for a 7 p.m. contest.