BOX SCORE KENT, Ohio (Nov. 28, 2012) – The Saint Francis University women's basketball team cruised to non-conference road win Wednesday against Kent State, 81-67.
 
Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) continued to lead the Red Flash (4-1, 0-0) offense as the junior poured in 26 points in 37 minutes to guide SFU past the Golden Flashes (0-6, 0-0) for the second time in three all-time meetings. The Red Flash limited KSU to just one 3-pointer (1-10, 10-percent) in the game and connected on nine of their own. Nikkia Gibbs dropped in 18 points for SFU and did not miss from behind the 3-point arc (2-for-2). Kent State got 16 points off the bench from Amber Dunlap but the Golden Flashes lost the rebounding battle to SFU 40-38.     
 
“It is the first game back from the Thanksgiving layoff so being off for eight days kind of through off our intensity in the first half,” head women's basketball coach Joe Haigh said. “We struggled a little bit and then we had foul trouble on top of that. Kelley Doogan (Claymont, Del./Ursuline Academy) was a great spark off the bench and she has been practicing well the last couple days, having her come in and hit a couple big shots when we needed them that really stands out to me.”
 
Saint Francis broke the game open in the second half after Kent State cut the lead to just three on a Melanne Stubbs fast break layup. SFU head coach Joe Haigh followed the made KSU bucket with a timeout and the Red Flash responded with an 18-4 run over the next 4:27. Shene Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) powered the run with six points and with her strong play inside SFU hit three 3-pointers during the run with two from Kelly Doogan. The run converted a 3-point advantage for SFU into a 64-47 lead for the Flash with 10:09 remaining. The run changed the game as SFU eventually pushed the lead to as many as 20 before removing a majority of the starters and getting the game to its final margin.
 
Kent State took the early lead but had trouble defending the 3-point arc as Saint Francis got its first nine points on 3-pointers. Saint Francis flirted with taking a commanding lead in the first half as after an Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) 3-pointer, SFU held a 30-19 advantage. Following a timeout, Kent State put together a 7-4 run to close the gap to eight before the break.
 
Saint Francis returns to action Saturday at DeGol Arena against Saint Joeseph's, with tipoff set for 1 p.m.  
 
GAME NOTES
- Rebecca Keegan (Jessup, Pa./Valley View) posted a career-high nine rebounds in the first half and finished the game with 11 to lead the Red Flash.
 
- Saint Francis posted four first half 3-point makes and did not allow the Golden Flashes to connect on a 3-pointer in the first frame. For the game, SFU limited KSU to just one 3-pointer, while the Red Flash connected on nine from behind the 3-point arc.
 
- The Red Flash posted 11 steals on the night including three off the bench from Rebecca Sparks (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck).
 
- Saint Francis shot 52.9-percent (18-for-34) in the second half from the field and also shot 5-for-9 (55.6-percent) from behind the 3-point arc in the second half.