STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Saint Francis women's basketball team (14-9, 12-4 NEC) fell to No. 2 Wagner (13-5, 12-4 NEC) by a 70-57 margin in the NEC semifinals on Wednesday. Karson Swogger scored a game-high 19 points as eight Red Flash players scored.
 

No. 3 Saint Francis 57, No. 2 Wagner 70
Records: Saint Francis (14-9, 12-4 NEC), Wagner (13-5, 12-4 NEC)
Location: Spiro Sports Center (Staten Island, N.Y.)
 
KEY MOMENTS
After Swogger cut the Wagner lead to one point with a three-pointer in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, the Seahawks put together a 14-1 run to take a 64-50 lead with 5:37 to play.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams started the game with fast-paced offense but strong defense as the score was 6-2 in favor of Wagner after the first four minutes of play. The game was tied at six mid-way through the opening quarter. A pair of three-pointers for the Seahawks gave Wagner a 16-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.

Lili Benzel opened second-quarter scoring with SFU's first three-pointer of the game to cut Wagner's lead to two. The Seahawks extended its lead to as many as six points, 20-14, with just under eight minutes to play in the first quarter. Saint Francis went on a 6-2 run to trim Wagner's lead to 22-20 at the media timeout.

Karson Swogger scored on a layup and followed up with a three-pointer to give Saint Francis its first lead of the game, 25-22, with 3:39 to play in the second quarter and force a Seahawks timeout. The Red Flash held a three-point lead but a Wagner three-pointer tied the game at 27 going into the locker room.

Saint Francis opened the second half with a 10-2 run, including a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe, to take a 37-29 lead with 6:50 remaining in the third quarter. Wagner responded with an 8-0 run to tie the game at 37 heading into the media timeout.

The Seahawks took its first lead of the second half, 41-39, with 3:19 to play in the third. The remainder of the quarter featured four lead changes as Wagner led by a 48-46 margin after 30 minutes of play.

Swogger hit her second triple of the game to cut the Seahawks lead to one with 9:26 to play. Wagner responded with five-straight points to take a 55-49 lead with eight minutes remaining. SFU called timeout with seven minutes to play, facing a 59-50 deficit after the Seahawks began the fourth quarter 4-of-4 from the floor.

Wagner shot 9-of-12 (.750) from the floor during the fourth quarter as the Seahawks held the 22-11 advantage during the final 10 minutes of play to earn the 70-57 victory.

STATS
The Red Flash outshot the Seahawks (52.2 percent to 42.3 percent) during the first half and was 2-of-5 from long range compared to Wagner's 3-of-8. SFU also held the 16-12 advantage on the boards. Saint Francis scored 20 of its 27 first-half points in the paint.

The Seahawks shot 75 percent from the floor during the fourth quarter and 68 percent during the second half. The Red Flash held the 32-23 rebounding advantage throughout the contest.

GAME NOTES

• This is the 18^th-straight game that Swogger has scored in double figures.
• Jada Dapaa led Saint Francis with seven rebounds.

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