FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Jan. 10, 2014) – The Saint Francis University women's basketball team came all the way back from a 15-point deficit midway through the second period, but lost against Sacred Heart, 82-77 on Saturday.

The Red Flash trailed 65-50 with seven minutes to play before going on a 15-5 run over the next three minutes to get back into the game. SFU then took the 74-73 lead with 2:04 to play, which was its first lead since the 16:20 mark of the first half.

The game was tied at 77 with 30 seconds left and an Aisha Brock (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) lay-in rimmed out twice and the Pioneers went on to score the final five points.

"I was proud of the way we were able to change things up and execute in the second half. We played very well down the stretch, but we weren't able to pull it out," said Joe Haigh.

Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) finished with 30 points leading all scorers. It was her first game with 30+ points since Dec. 21, and her fourth time with at least 30 this season. Brock finished with 18 points in her third consecutive game in double-figures.

"I am still really happy with the way we were able to take control of the game late, we just have to do a better job of finishing at Bryant," Haigh continued.

Both teams came out of the gates firing as there were 21 total points scored four minutes into the contest. Brock scored the first five points for the Flash trailed 11-10 at the first media break.

Past that point, Saint Francis did not hold another lead in the first period and kept pace until the Pioneers went on a 9-2 run past the midway point. Hayward then sparked a 7-0 run for SFU putting them back within two at 31-29 with 1:19 to play. A small 5-0 run for SHU put them ahead 36-29 at halftime. Turnovers plagued the Flash in half one as they had 11.

Corissa Archer (Clermont, Fla./East Ridge) and Cydney Smith (Port Tobacco, Md./St. Mary's Ryken) each posted seven points off the bench for SFU, while Hope Phillips (Marlton, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep) had two points and five rebounds. Rochelle Reece (Ajax, Ontario, Canada/Pickering) had five points and a team-high four steals.

Saint Francis continues its road trip as it plays Bryant at 7 p.m. on Monday evening.