HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Saint Francis women's basketball team (3-4, 2-0 NEC) beat Fairleigh Dickinson (3-3, 0-2 NEC) by a 64-48 margin on Wednesday to sweep the two-game series.

Despite a third-quarter push from Fairleigh Dickinson that saw the Saint Francis lead cut to as little as four points, the Red Flash responded with a run of their own and held off the Knights to earn the 64-48 victory.
 
Saint Francis 64, Fairleigh Dickinson 48
Records: Saint Francis (3-4, 2-0 NEC), Fairleigh Dickinson (3-3, 0-2 NEC)
Location: Rothman Center (Hackensack, N.J.)
 

KEY MOMENTS
Fairleigh Dickinson went on a 12-0 run in the third quarter that cut Saint Francis' lead to 39-35 with 4:10 remaining in the quarter. The Red Flash responded with an 11-0 run of its own to regain control of the game. The Knights cut the SFU lead down to single digits again in the fourth quarter but the Red Flash defense prevented FDU from scoring another point in the last four minutes of play.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams started slow offensively as the game was tied at two after four minutes of play. After a basket by Fairleigh Dickinson, Saint Francis went on a 6-0 run to take an 8-4 lead with 3:36 to play in the opening quarter.
 
FDU responded with its lone three-pointer of the first quarter to cut SFU's lead to one point before the Red Flash finished the first 10 minutes of play with an 11-2 run. Saint Francis held a 19-9 lead after the first quarter as Sam Miller led the offense with seven points.
 
The Knights were hot from long range to start the second quarter, sinking a trio of three-pointers to cut the Red Flash's lead to 21-18 with 6:21 remaining in the first half. Saint Francis once again responded both defensively and offensively, allowing no more points in the first half of play while scoring 13. SFU held a 34-18 lead going into the locker room.
 
The third quarter was full of runs by both teams. With 7:16 to play in the third, Saint Francis held a 39-23 lead, its largest of the afternoon thus far. Fairleigh Dickinson went on a 12-0 run to cut the Red Flash's lead to 39-35 with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter.
 
SFU responded with an 11-0 run of its own to extend its lead back to double digits, 50-35 with 55 seconds on the third-quarter clock. FDU scored the final four points of the quarter as SFU held a 50-39 lead after three quarters of play.
 
The Knights cut the Red Flash lead to single digits twice in the fourth quarter, including with four minutes remaining as SFU held a 56-48 lead, but Saint Francis allowed no points in the final four minutes of play to cap scoring at 64-48.

STATS
Saint Francis led the first half in field-goal percentage (45-25), rebounds (21-18) and assists (8-3) while having fewer turnovers (4-7). The Red Flash had 18 points in the paint in the first half compared to the Knights' four.
 
The Red Flash outrebounded the Knights by double digits for the second-straight game, having the 39-28 advantage in this game. Saint Francis outshot Fairleigh Dickinson 46 percent to 32 percent from the floor. The SFU defense held FDU nine points in three of the quarters.
 
GAME NOTES

• Saint Francis recorded an assist on each of its first five baskets and totaled six assists on eight baskets in the first quarter.
• The Red Flash outscored the Knights 34-18 in the first half after producing the 35-17 advantage in the second half of Tuesday's game.
• SFU's defense forced FDU to shoot just 18 percent from the floor in the second quarter.
• Kaitlyn Maxwell scored a career-high eight points.
• Christina Nichols matched her career-high four points for the second game in a row.
• Lili Benzel extended her three-pointer streak to 16 games, dating back to last season.
• Jada Dapaa became the first Red Flash player to total at least 10 rebounds in a game this season, finishing the game with 10.

 

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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.