BOX SCORE SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Feb. 3, 2014) – Behind a career-high 30 point performance from Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk), the Saint Francis University women's basketball team beat Bryant, 83-79, on Monday night for its fifth consecutive victory, and first ever inside the Chace Athletic Center.

Hayward shot 12-of-19 from the field to go along with five assists and three steals to lead the Red Flash (9-12, 7-3). Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) added 22 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in the contest. Breanna Rucker and Naana Ankoma-Mensa each scored 22 points to lead the Bulldogs (11-10, 6-4).

"The home loss was so heartbreaking, we really have learned from it and we have improved so much since. I am so proud of this team," SFU head coach Joe Haigh said.

Both teams played a fairly even second half with no lead from either team extending past five points in the frame. There were nine lead changes in the period, compared to just one in the first half.

With Saint Francis up by three with just over two minutes to play, Shaqeia Stokes (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods) got parallel to the ground to save a ball out-of-bounds and SFU was later able to earn free throws from the saved possession.

SFU was then again up by just three with 1:07 to play and Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) knocked down a short jumper off a feed from Hayward on an in-bounds play. Hayward added a lay-in to ice the game with 12 seconds left for the Frankies.

"Alexa took the loss [against Bryant on Jan. 13] really hard and we gave her the ball down the stretch and she took control tonight," Haigh continued.

Saint Francis controlled the majority of the first half and led by as much as 14 at the 7:24 mark (36-24) after back-to-back three-pointers from Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk). The Flash would go the final seven and a half minutes without hitting a field goal and trailed at halftime, 38-37.

Aisha Brock (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) scored the first seven points of the game for SFU and finished with 10 to go along with four assists. Corissa Archer (Clermont, Fla./East Ridge) registered a team-high eight rebounds.

SFU executed its game plan effectively and held Bryant's Courtney Schissler to just three points and to a 1-of-9 shooting night. Schissler erupted for career-high 36 points during the last meeting.

Saint Francis won the turnover battle by forcing 22 and only committing 16. The Bulldogs outrebounded SFU, 52-37, and in offensive boards, 23-9.

Saint Francis returns to Loretto for its longest home stand of the 2013-14 campaign, first it will host Sacred Heart on Saturday for a 1 p.m. match-up. The Red Flash fell to the Pioneers in the NEC opener, 95-88, on Jan. 4.