BROOKLYN (Feb. 7, 2015) – In a game with 62 fouls and 61 turnovers, it was LIU Brooklyn who came out on top over the Saint Francis U women's basketball team, 84-79, on Saturday afternoon.

Despite Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) shooting nearly 50% (11-of-23) from the field and scoring 29 points, SFU's struggles from the free throw line stood out in the loss. The Red Flash shot just 57% from the charity stripe and missed several down the stretch that cost them. It was a marathon-like game of nearly two and a half hours in total and SFU forced 33 LIU turnovers in the contest.

Hayward combined the high point total with six rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Aisha Brock (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) followed in suit with 17 points of her own to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

It was a crazy paced opening half as each team upped its defensive pressure resulting in a surplus of turnovers. The Flash forced 19 Blackbird mistakes in the first half, while committing 14 of their own.

An Adila Gathers (Buffalo, N.Y./Tapestry Charter) jumper gave the Flash a 13-12 lead at the 15:46 mark and then the Blackbirds embarked on a 7-0 run to take a 19-13 lead, which forced a Flash timeout. Saint Francis responded quickly with a 6-0 run capped off with a Corissa Archer (Clermont, Fla./East Ridge) lay-up and then it was LIU who needed a break.

There were six more lead changes in the first frame to go along with seven ties. Saint Francis held its largest lead of the period at the 2:56 mark of six points after Hope Phillips (Marlton, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep) scored a bucket. SFU held the slim 41-40 advantage as the teams headed to their respective locker rooms.

SFU quickly extended its lead to six quickly in half two after Hayward hit her second triple of the ball game at the 17:30 mark. LIU climbed back quickly and took its first lead of the second period just a minute and a half later. Neither team could sustain a lead larger than two until the Blackbirds went up by seven with 8:19 to play.

Saint Francis was never back within less than three points despite several chances down the stretch. LIU Brooklyn went on to shoot 50 free throws, and made 39 of them.

Corissa Archer (Clermont, Fla./East Ridge) finished with eight points, while Gathers tied a career-high with her eight. Rochelle Reece (Ajax, Ontario, Canada/Pickering) also tallied seven points off the bench. The Red Flash only attempted 13 three-pointers in the game, their fewest total of the season.

Saint Francis will face Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday evening at 7 p.m. The Knights bested the Flash in Loretto on Jan. 31, 78-65.