LORETTO, Pa. (March 2, 2015) – Saint Francis U ended its season on a high note as it topped Mount St. Mary's, 90-87, in a thrilling battle that went down to the final buzzer inside DeGol Arena on Monday night.

In the final game of Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk)'s illustrious career, the senior captain poured in 37 points and nailed seven 3-pointers to go along with five rebounds, five steals, and four assists. She leaves Saint Francis U ranked fourth all-time in scoring at 1,779 career points. Her seven 3-pointers made is one shy of the SFU record and the 37 points is 10 shy of tying the Red Flash mark.

Aisha Brock (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) also added 11 points for SFU, while Samiah Bethel (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) scored a career-high 13 off the bench. It was also the final game for Corissa Archer (Clermont, Fla./East Ridge), Hope Phillips (Marlton, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep), and Shaqeia Stokes (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods). The Red Flash forced a season-high 38 turnovers as its press rattled the Mountaineers.

"It's been a tough season, but it was great to end it with a win. It says a lot about the character of this team," said SFU head coach Joe Haigh. "The win was for our seniors, who are just a special group of people."

Saint Francis started the first half on fire as it scored seven points in a minute with baskets from Hayward, Maya Wynn (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh), and Hope Phillips (Marlton, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep). SFU led 18-12 at the 15:16 mark before the Mountaineers went on a large run. A 17-5 run by The Mount put them ahead 29-23 halfway through the opening period.

SFU then embarked on an 8-0 run and regained the lead with two of the baskets going to Hayward. The teams started to trade baskets as the track meet continued. Mount led 47-46 at halftime and Hayward had 28 points at the break.

Out of halftime each team kept it close for a while as they each battled back and forth until the game was tied at 58 all. Eight straight points were then scored by the Flash as Adila Gathers (Buffalo, N.Y./Tapestry Charter) capped off the run with a lay-in and SFU led 66-58 with 12:10 to play.

Mount St. Mary's then went on a 14-0 run to regain the lead with 8:56 to play at 72-66. An emotional moment happened next for the Red Flash as Hayward fouled on an incidental loose ball with 6:14 left in the game, which was tied at 73.

SFU took a lead thanks to several clutch free throws from Bethel down the stretch and SFU led by five with 5:04 to go. Mount came back yet again and was down 88-87 with 39 seconds to play and the game saving block from Phillips iced the win for the Flash. Brock hit both free throws as she was fouled to give SFU the final three-point lead it would have.

Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) also leaves Saint Francis as the all-time leader in 3-pointers made (300) and attempted (947). She finishes ranked tied for ninth in assists (312), ninth in field goals made (593), second in field goals attempted (1,722), ninth in free throws made (293), and 10th in free throws attempted (372).
 
"Lex [Hayward] worked so hard to improve each year at Saint Francis and that's a tribute to her work ethic and she will go down as one of the best player's we will ever see at SFU," commented Haigh on Hayward's stellar SFU career.

SFU also played its three-year team manager Zoe Otterman (Holmdel, N.J./Saint John Vianney) for a minute at the end of the first half, the Flash thank her dearly for her services to the program and the University.

Saint Francis finishes the 2014-15 season with a 6-23 record and a 5-13 record in Northeast Conference play.