BOX SCORE HAMDEN, Conn. (Feb. 16, 2013) – Saint Francis outscored Quinnipiac in the second half but it wasn't enough to undo the damage from a lopsided opening 20 minutes as the Bobcats claimed a 71-55 win over the Red Flash on Saturday afternoon.

The Bobcats (12-13, 8-5 Northeast Conference), who had been outrebounding opponents by 9.7 per game, third best in Division I, had a 49-23 advantage on the boards against the Red Flash (3-22, 3-11) and outscored them 32-12 in the paint.

“In the second half we made a run and battled,” said Flash coach Rob Krimmel.  “But, this was a rebounding game and Quinnipiac was able to will their style close to the basket.  They made their shots, too and when they do those two things as well as they did tonight, they're tough to beat.”

Quinnipiac scored the game's first seven points and led 41-19 at halftime en route to its fourth consecutive victory.

“To start the game they hit three or four 3-pointers right off the bat and that kind of took away some of the things we were trying to do closer the basket,” Krimmel said.

Ollie Jackson (Dallas, Texas/Pinkston ) scored 14 points, while Greg Brown (Odenton, Md./Archbishop Spalding) chipped in 11 for Saint Francis.  Freshman Zachary Vigneault (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) closed out the scoring by hitting a free throw with nine seconds to play.

Ike Azotam scored 17 points and Zaid Hearst had 16 for the Bobcats.  Quinnipiac, which is leaving the NEC at season's end, also notched a 75-66 win in overtime at DeGol Arena on Jan. 17.

Saint Francis opens its final home-stand of the season on Thursday when it welcomes Fairleigh Dickinson for a 7 p.m. contest.