BOX SCORE FAIRFIELD, Conn. (March 21, 2013) – In its first ever trip to the Women's Basketball Invitational, the Saint Francis U women's basketball team lost to Fairfield, 71-51, on Friday evening.

Rebecca Sparks (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) led all Red Flash (17-16) scorers with 13 points. The Stags (18-13) saw five different players' record double-figures, including 16 from Kristin Schatzlein. Fairfield will go on to face Pennsylvania in the second round of the WBI.

“The experience we can take away from this game is great,” SFU head coach Joe Haigh said. “I was proud of the team for not turning the ball over tonight.”

Fairfield took the early lead after back-to-back three-pointers from Alexys Vazquez. SFU battled back and after a backdoor feed from Kelley Doogan (Claymont, Del./Ursuline Academy) to Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle), the Flash took its first lead of the evening, 11-9.

Both teams continued to trade baskets for the majority of the half. The Stags then closed out the first period on a 9-0 run to take a 43-32 lead into the locker room.

Hope Phillips (Marlton, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep) scored the first field goal for SFU in the second half as she hit a reverse lay-up at the 15:51 mark. Fairfield's lead stretched to 21 points with less than 15 minutes to play. A short run from SFU got the Flash within 14 after a three from Brooklyn Taylor (Greenville, Pa./Greenville), but that was the closest it got down the stretch.

Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) finished with 10 points and six rebounds for the Flash. Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) knocked down three triples and added 11 points. SFU finished with a season low nine turnovers in the game.

“We need to get better individually for next season,” Haigh continued. “We have to learn to execute better, especially on the defensive end.

Brooklyn Taylor (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) and Aisha Brock (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) both earned their first career start for Saint Francis.