LORETTO, PA- Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) had 25 and Cydney Smith (Port Tobacco, Md./St. Mary's Ryken) shattered her career-high with 25 as Saint Francis handed Bryant their second-straight loss 85-72 on Monday night.

Smith's previous career high was 10 points against Pitt-Johnstown this season but the red-shirt sophomore hit on 9 of her 14 shots including all three of her threes en route to her 25 points and nine rebounds.

"Cyd has shown potential for this type of game," Coach Joe Haigh said. "She was great tonight, Bryant has some terrific post players and she hit some big shots for us and played aggressive on both sides of the floor."

It was Bryant that came out hot on Monday, jumping out to a 10-4 lead as Saint Francis started the game 2-11 from the field. The Bulldogs would lead by as many as 12 in the first quarter before the Flash got going towards the end of the first quarter. Kovatch got a driving layup and Aisha Brock (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) hit a pair of free throws to cap a 6-0 run to close the quarter. Bryant led 19-13 after the first quarter.

Saint Francis would cut into the lead in the second quarter but could not take the lead. A 7-0 run run led by a Smith three cut into Bryant's lead to make it 26-24 midway through the quarter. The Bulldogs routinely would stretch the lead back only to see the Flash comeback but SFU was unable to tie or take the lead. That changed on the final play of the half. Off an in-bounds pass, Kovatch took the pass, dribbled the ball off her foot and drained a fall-away, half-court shot as time expired to draw Saint Francis even at 40 heading into the half.

SFU jumped out to a quick start in the third quarter, Halee Adams (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) drained an early three and Kovatch completed a four-point play to put Saint Francis up seven, 52-45. Adams put three players in double figures, finishing with 15. The Flash maintained the advantage throughout the quarter as they heated up from the field. Smith hit a pair of threes to spark a pair of runs by the Flash, her third three of the game stretched the Saint Francis lead out to eight and Bryant would get no closer the rest of the night. The Red Flash out scored the Bulldogs 26-14 in the third quarter to lead 66-54 after three.

The Red Flash held Bryant at bay in the fourth quarter, using strong defense to prevent any sort of comeback. Saint Francis held Bryant to just 23 percent shooting in the second half and just 20 percent from three for the game.

"Loved the defensive intensity tonight," Coach Haigh added. "There are night's where we have shown that we can be the best offensive team and at times where we can be the best defensive team, tonight I thought we put it all together and that started on the defensive end."

Saint Francis would ice the game from the line, going 13-17from the charity stripe in the second half and 15-20 for the game. It was the rebounding and defensive efforts tonight that proved to be the difference. Bryant out rebounded the Flash 45-42 on Monday, but Saint Francis won the second-chance point battle 16-12. Both Cydney Smith (Port Tobacco, Md./St. Mary's Ryken) and Brielle Ward (Baltimore, Md./Western (Hampton U)) finished with a team-high nine rebounds. The Flash also scored 24 points off 20 Bulldog turnovers, flipping the script from the previous matchup in Rhode Island.

Breanna Rucker had 18 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulldogs and Ivory Bailed added 17 points as Bryant dropped their second-straight NEC contest to fall to 10-2 in NEC play and 13-10 overall.

The win improves Saint Francis to 9-14 and 7-5 in the Northeast Conference as they snapped a two-game slide. SFU hits the road next weekend for games at Mount Saint Mary's and Wagner. First up are the Mountaineers in a game that can be seen on ESPN3, tip time from the Mount is set for noon on Saturday.