NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The Saint Francis women's basketball team (14-8, 12-4 NEC) wrapped up the regular season with a 69-62 win against Central Connecticut (4-14, 4-14 NEC) on Friday. After the Blue Devils tied the game with 4:30 to play, the Red Flash scored the next four points and never surrendered the lead.
 
Saint Francis 69, Central Connecticut 62
Records: Saint Francis (14-8, 12-4 NEC), Central Connecticut (4-14, 4-14 NEC)
Location: Detrick Gymnasium (New Britain, Conn.)
 
KEY MOMENTS
After Central Connecticut tied the game for the first time at 59 aside with 4:30 remaining, Diajha Allen scored on back-to-back possessions to put Saint Francis in front for the remainder of the game. The Blue Devils would come within a one with a three-pointer but a jumper by Haley Thomas and a three-pointer from Karson Swogger sealed the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Red Flash started strong with a Lili Benzel three-pointer on the first possession of the game before both defenses settled in as the game saw limited scoring. Saint Francis scored the first five points of the game and held Central Connecticut scoreless for nearly four minutes before the Blue Devils got onto the scoreboard.

SFU held a 9-2 lead at the media timeout with 4:31 remaining in the opening quarter, its largest lead of the first 10 minutes. CCSU cut into the Red Flash's lead as the visitors led 11-9 with 1:20 to play in the first quarter. SFU led by a 13-9 mark after 10 minutes of play.

The Red Flash defense held the Blue Devils scoreless through the first four minutes of the second quarter as the SFU offense built a 23-9 lead with a 10-0 run. The run included two triples from Benzel as she was the first in the game to reach double figures on the back of a trio of three-pointers.

Saint Francis extended its lead to 27-12 with under four minutes to play in the first half to force a Central Connecticut timeout. Out of the timeout, the Blue Devils ended the second quarter with a 9-4 run to cut the Red Flash's lead to 31-21 going into the locker room.

SFU scored the first seven points of the second half, including five points by Thomas, to extend the lead to 38-21 with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. CCSU answered with seven points of its own before its run was interrupted by a basket from Swogger.

With six minutes to play in the third quarter, the Blue Devils trimmed the Red Flash's lead to single digits for the first time since near the beginning of the second quarter, 40-31. Swogger responded with a three-pointer to reach double figures for the 17^th-straight game.

CCSU trimmed the SFU lead to as little as seven points but the Red Flash held a 54-43 lead after three quarters.

After Swogger opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, the Blue Devils put together an 8-0 run to force an SFU timeout as the lead was down to 57-51 with 6:32 to play. The Red Flash was held scoreless for four minutes and the Blue Devils eventually tied the game at 59 with 4:30 to play.

Diajha Allen made back-to-back shots to give Saint Francis a lead it would not relinquish. Central Connecticut would get as close as one with 1:43 to play, but the Red Flash earned a 69-62 victory.

STATS
The Saint Francis defense forced Central Connecticut to shoot just 7-of-30 (.233) from the floor and 2-of-10 (.200) from long range during the first half. The Red Flash held the slight 22-21 rebounding advantage and totaled seven assists.

SFU was more efficient from the field (47.4 percent) and long range (46.7) than CCSU (34.8 percent from the field and 27.6 percent from long range). The Red Flash won the rebounding battle, 39-38.

GAME NOTES

• This is Benzel's eighth game of the season with at least three triples and 13^th game of the season in double figures.
• Allen tied her career-high five rebounds in the first half.
• The Red Flash forced the Blue Devils to score its lowest point total in a half this season with 21 in the first half.
• Swogger reached double figures for the 17^th-straight game.
• Dapaa reached double figures for the eight game this season.
• Thomas reached double figures for the fifth time this season.

 
UP AHEAD
Saint Francis is set to travel to Wagner in the NEC Tournament semifinals on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
 
Follow Saint Francis Women's Basketball on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Flash program.
 
To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.