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Saint Francis University Athletics

Karson Swogger
68
Central Conn. St. CCSU 2-20,1-10 NEC
72
Winner Saint Francis (PA) SF-PA 10-12,8-3 NEC
Central Conn. St. CCSU
2-20,1-10 NEC
68
Final
72
Saint Francis (PA) SF-PA
10-12,8-3 NEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Central Conn. St. CCSU 21 10 11 26 68
Saint Francis (PA) SF-PA 12 17 18 25 72

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | David Halstead

Red Flash hold off CCSU rally for 72-68 win

Loretto, Pa. – Saint Francis women's basketball (10-12, 8-3 NEC) used a well-balanced team effort to pull out a 72-68 win over Central Connecticut State (2-20, 1-10 NEC) on Monday at DeGol Arena. Karson Swogger (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) led the Red Flash in scoring with 15 points, while Haley Thomas (Hooversville, PA/Bishop McCort) recorded a double-double with 13 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.

SFU led 65-55 following a Jenna Mastellone (New York City, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) layup with 2:11 remaining in the contest. The Blue Devils then made a late push and went on an 8-0 run to cut the margin to 65-63 with 22 seconds to go. CCSU pulled within 69-68 after a three-pointer with 12 seconds left.

Swogger was intentionally fouled with six seconds remaining and made the first of two free throws to put the Red Flash ahead 70-68. Following a miss on the second attempt, Jada Dapaa (Potomac, MD/Holy Child) pulled down an offensive rebound and Thomas was fouled with two seconds to go. The Hooversville, Pa. native sealed the win with 2-of-2 from the line.

Saint Francis jumped out to an 8-6 lead following back-to-back three-pointers from Dapaa and Mastellone with 4:43 to play in the first period. CCSU then went on a 15-2 run to seize a 21-10 advantage. The Blue Devils led 21-12 at the end of the first stanza.

CCSU extended the margin to 31-19 with just under five minutes left in the second quarter. A Dapaa jumper sparked a 10-0 SFU run to close the half. Lili Benzel's (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle (Shippensburg)) layup with 51 seconds to go trimmed the lead to 31-29 at halftime.

SFU regained the lead at 37-35 on a Dettwiller layup with six minutes to play in the third period. Swogger's trifecta extended the margin to 42-35 before a quick 7-2 CCSU run. Benzel connected on a three-pointer with 49 seconds left to give the Red Flash a 47-42 lead at the end of the third frame.

Saint Francis extended the margin to 52-42 following a Swogger layup with 8:41 to play in the fourth quarter. Back-to-back three-pointers from Thomas and Swogger put the Red Flash ahead 59-49 with 5:45 left. SFU's lead grew to 63-52 before the Blue Devils made the late surge. The duo of Swogger and Thomas combined for 7-of-8 free throws in the final 22 seconds to secure the victory.
 
Inside the Box Score
  • SFU shot 25-of-50 from the field, including 7-of-19 (36.8%) from three-point range.
  • The Red Flash were 15-of-19 (78.9%) from the free throw line.
  • Saint Francis held a 38-26 rebounding advantage.
  • Swogger recorded a season-high seven of the team's 17 assists.
  • Dettwiller had 12 points on 6-of-8 field goals, while pulling down seven rebounds.
  • Mastellone also finished in double figures with 10 points.
Notes
  • Saint Francis improves to 33-13 in the all-time series history.
  • The Red Flash have won three straight and five of the last six meetings with the Blue Devils.
  • SFU has won four of its last five games at DeGol Arena.
  • Thomas' double-double was her third of the season.
  • Swogger's 15 points was the most she had scored since matching her career-best 29 points against St. Francis Brooklyn on Jan. 11, 2020.
Up Next
Saint Francis returns to action at Wagner on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m.
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