BOX SCORE COLUMBUS, Ohio (Nov. 20, 2012) – The Saint Francis University women's basketball team posted an excellent first half but fell short on the road against No. 16 Ohio State, 70-54.
 
The Red Flash (3-1, 0-0) posted a strong effort and trailed the Buckeyes (3-1, 0-0) by just three at the half but struggled in the second half to get defensive stops. Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) posted 16 points and seven rebounds but was limited to just 28 minutes due to foul trouble. Shene Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) had the Value City Arena crowd of 2,625 on edge, as she played strong with 11 points and five rebounds. OSU's Taylor Hill netted 23 points including 17 in the second half to give the Buckeyes their 27th consecutive home win. Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) posted her best game of the young season for SFU with 13 points but it was not enough against a balanced Buckeye attack, which had five players in double figures.
 
“I am very pleased with our effort and I'm even more pleased that it is the fourth game in row I can say that,” head coach Joe Haigh said. “We have played hard in all our games and I was happy with the way we executed our defensive game play.”
 
The Red Flash started a little slow and got in a 6-2 hole but rallied behind a strong first half by Fleming, who scored nine first frame points. Both teams shot the ball well in the opening minutes as the teams combined to make seven of their first 15 shot attempts. Ohio State was never able to extend the margin past seven in the first half thanks to a pair of key 3-point baskets by Hayward. After a Fleming layup and a Rebecca Sparks (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) jumper with 33 second left in the half the Flash had the differential down to just one. OSU's Amber Stokes connected on a layup with seven seconds left in the first half to push the half time lead to 32-29 in favor of the Buckeyes.  
 
Ohio State pushed hard at the start of the second half and moved the lead to eight with 15:54 remaining. Hayward lifted the Flash by scoring or assisting on four consecutive SFU baskets to trim the Buckeye lead to three. After the sophomore knocked down a 3-pointer with 13:27 left in the second half to cut the OSU lead to just three, SFU got into foul trouble. Williams picked up her fourth foul less than a minute later and had to head to the bench. Without Williams on the floor, Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, Tayler Hill heated up and pushed the Ohio State advantage over 10. Once the Buckeye lead reached 14, Haigh brought Williams back on the floor. But just 2:33 later the junior forward picked up her fifth foul on a block out. With Williams out of the contest, Saint Francis was unable to rally and Ohio State ran out the clock for the win.
 
The Red Flash returns to action with a 7 p.m. tipoff Nov. 28 on the road against Mid-American Conference rival Kent State.
 
GAME NOTES
- Saint Francis shot 44.4-percent in the second half.
 
- SFU finished the game with eight free throw attempts while Ohio State went to the line 28 times.  
 
- Saint Francis limited Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year Taylor Hill to just six points in the first half.
 
- Ohio State was without Ashley Adams, who missed the game due to an injury.
 
- Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) fouled out with 6:33 remaining in the game.