Loretto, Pa. – Saint Francis freshman Sam Miller (Red Lion, PA/Dallastown) converted on two free throws with 5.6 seconds left and a defensive stand helped the Red Flash (6-10, 4-1 NEC) secure a 51-50 win over Wagner (4-11, 0-4 NEC) on Monday at DeGol Arena. Haley Thomas (Hooversville, PA/Bishop McCort) recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Karson Swogger (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) also had 11 points, while Jenna Mastellone (New York City, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) tied her career-high with 10 points.

In a wild final 20 seconds, the Seahawks took a 50-49 lead by converting on the first of two free throw attempts. The second shot was off the mark, but Wagner corralled the rebound. A Phee Allen (Newport News, VA/Woodside) steal just moments later gave the Red Flash possession.

Following a timeout with 13 seconds left, Miller drew a foul away from the ball and calmly knocked down both free throws. Wagner's layup with one second remaining was off the mark to give the Red Flash the victory.

Wagner jumped out to an early 7-4 lead before back-to-back Thomas baskets put the Red Flash ahead 8-7 with 4:41 to play in the first period. Lili Benzel's (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle (Shippensburg)) three-pointer tied the game 12-12 with 2:46 left. The Seahawks connected on consecutive triples before another Benzel trey narrowed Wagner's lead to 18-15 at the end of the first stanza.

The Seahawks led 22-17 when the Red Flash used a 7-0 run that was capped off with a Mastellone layup to seize a 24-22 advantage with 6:39 remaining in the second period. Wagner responded with a 9-2 surge to take a 31-26 lead at halftime.

Saint Francis opened the third period on a 7-2 run as a Thomas layup tied the game 33-33 with 5:14 to play in the third quarter. Back-to-back Mastellone trifectas put the Red Flash ahead 39-35 with 2:29 left. SFU held a 41-38 advantage at the end of the third frame.

Swogger connected on a three-pointer to give Saint Francis a 44-39 lead before a 5-0 Wagner run tied the game 44-44 with 7:23 remaining in the contest. SFU took a 49-44 lead following another Swogger triple and a Mastellone layup with 4:40 to go.

The Seahawks used a 5-0 run over the next four minutes to tie the game 49-49 on a layup with 1:14 left. Both defenses held strong in the final minute to set up the free throw attempts in the final seconds.
 
Inside the Box Score

• SFU shot 18-of-40 (45.0%) from the floor, including 7-of-20 (35.0%) from three-point range.
• The Red Flash were 8-of-11 (72.7%) from the free throw line.
• Saint Francis held a 41-29 rebounding advantage.
• Benzel scored all eight of her points in the first half.
• Miller's two free throws were her only shot attempts of the game. 

Notes

• SFU improves to 49-22 in the all-time series with Wagner.
• The Red Flash have now won the last five meetings with the Seahawks.
• Thomas scored in double-figures for the fifth straight game and seventh time in the past eight outings.
• Thomas' double-double was her second of the season after also recording one at Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 17, 2019.
• Mastellone's 10 points were a season-high and tied her career-high set on Dec. 16, 2018 against Montana.

Up Next
Saint Francis continues a four-game home stand by hosting Sacred Heart on Saturday, Jan. 18. Tipoff at DeGol Arena is set for 4 p.m.