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LORETTO, Pa. (Feb. 16, 2015) – The Saint Francis University women's basketball team held its opponent to the lowest total allowed in 2014-15 as it bested Northeast Conference leader Central Connecticut, 61-48, on Monday for its first winning streak of the season.

The 48 points allowed was the best defensive effort the Red Flash have put together this campaign along with only allowing a season-low 20 points in the first half. Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) paced the Red Flash offense with 23 points to go along with five assists, four rebounds, and four steals. Aisha Brock (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) put together another strong effort with 17 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Saint Francis shot 18-of-20 from the free throw line in the game.

"We played a very solid defensive game and I am very pleased about the win tonight. It was great to see that we improved even since Saturday's win [against LIU Brooklyn] and this team deserves credit for not giving up despite a tough season thus far," said SFU head coach Joe Haigh.

It was a very sloppy start for each squad as only four points were scored total in the first three minutes combined with four total turnovers. Central Connecticut took control first as they led 8-4 five minutes in after an Amanda Harrington lay-in. SFU then embarked on a 9-4 run to lead 21-16 midway through the period sparked by a couple baskets from Hayward.

Saint Francis continued to control the first half and went on an identical 9-4 run to end the half, which extended their lead to 10 and led to a 30-20 advantage at halftime. It is the second consecutive game SFU has led at halftime, and they are 4-4 in those contests. The 20 points allowed was the least amount SFU has given up in the first period of play all season.

In the second half of play, it was the Blue Devils who went on a 7-2 run to start the frame and they got within four points of the Red Flash in the first five minutes. Saint Francis proved its resiliency by standing its ground and then extending its lead back up to 12 over the next five minutes of play. The play that stood out during SFU's run was Brock's tough shot that she hit over two defenders as the shot clock expired.

CCSU was able to narrow the margin to single digits again with about three minutes to play, but sharp shooting from Hayward and free throw conversions led the Flash to its second consecutive victory.

Maya Wynn (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh) scored nine points and knocked in four-of-four from the charity stripe. Cydney Smith (Port Tobacco, Md./St. Mary's Ryken) and Corissa Archer (Clermont, Fla./East Ridge) collected six and five rebounds to lead the team, respectively.

Samiah Bethel (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) rebounded the ball very well off the bench for SFU and grabbed five, including two big ones on the offensive glass. The Red Flash forced 22 Central Connecticut turnovers in the contest.

Saint Francis hits the road for its final full weekend regular season road trip with the first stop at St. Francis Brooklyn (9-17, 6-8 NEC) on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. The Terriers bested the Flash inside DeGol Arena on Jan. 19, 70-55.

"We look at these next four games all as playoff games, if we lose a single game we may not make the [NEC] postseason," Haigh said.