BOX SCORE

NEW BRITAIN, CONN. (Jan. 9, 2012) – The Saint Francis U. women's basketball team certainly made its first win of 2012 one to remember.  An improbable comeback, an outstanding defensive effort and inspired play – all in the second half – added up to a, 57-47, Red Flash win at Central Connecticut State on Monday.

After trailing by as many as 22 points late in the first half and 16 at the intermission, SFU outscored the Blue Devils (6-9; 1-3 NEC), 35-9, in the second period to snap a four-game skid and improve to 3-1 in Northeast Conference play.

“When our kids take ownership and play with heart, passion, great hustle and great effort, they can do amazing things,” said Flash head coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl.  “I mean, holding a team to nine points on the road is tremendous.  They deserve the credit because they're the ones that played the defense.”

In an effort rarely seen this side of the 1960s, Saint Francis held CCSU to just 13 percent (3-for-22) shooting in the second half after being gouged for a 50 percent (15-for-30) in the first.  The Flash held the Blue Devils without a field goal through the final nine minutes of the game.

Central Connecticut State's lone point down the stretch came via a Kaley Watras free throw with one second to play.

After firing under 20 percent in the first half, the Red Flash shot 50 percent (14-for-28) in the second period led by a 4-for-7, 12-point period by Nikia Gibbs.  Gibbs wound up leading SFU's three double-digit scorers with 12 points.

Allison Smith (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) – who settled down the Flash offense by taking over the point early in the second half – and Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) each had 10 points.  Sarah Thorn (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury East) chipped in nine.

“We ran things a lot cleaner in the second half,” said Robinson Fruchtl.  “[Smith] came in for a little bit at the beginning of the second half at point and just calmed things down.  When Sarah [Thorn] came in it just gave us a different look.”

Williams also led a dominant effort on the boards.  The sophomore forward pulled down nine of Saint Francis' 51 rebounds.  CCSU collected 34 rebounds on the evening.   SFU out-rebounded the Blue Devils 27-to-12 in the second stanza.

Jaclyn Babe led CCSU with 19 points, but scored 17 of those in the first half.

The win also marked the first time since the 2004-05 season that Saint Francis scored 57-or-fewer points and came away with a victory.

The Flash returns home for the first time in 34 days when it hosts Quinnipiac in its 1,000th varsity game on Saturday at 1 p.m.