BROOKLYN, N.Y.  – Saint Francis University women's basketball defeated LIU 62-51 behind its season-high total 11 three-point shots made. The win moved Saint Francis back to .500, 2-2, in conference play.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Maria McConnell tied a team-high with 12 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from three-point territory. She also recorded the only Saint Francis block of the game.
» Layla Laws scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, added four rebounds and one steal.
» Destini Ward scored 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting from three-point territory.
» Sam Miller grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and added eight points and Jade Campbell added six rebounds.
» LIU's Mariah Elohim scored a game-high 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
LIU jumped out to an early 8-3 lead four minutes into the game and held the lead until Saint Francis tied the game at 11 with 1:26 remaining in the first quarter. After Saint Francis led 12-11 after the first quarter, both teams were within four points of each other before LIU took a 30-28 lead into halftime. The second quarter featured five ties and three lead changes.
 
Saint Francis led by one point, 34-33, midway through the third quarter before the Red Flash produced a 14-4 run in the final half of the quarter and took a 47-37 lead. During the run, Saint Francis converted three three-point shots, which included back-to-back makes by McConnell.
 
In the fourth quarter, Saint Francis opened an 18-point, 55-37 lead, with seven minutes remaining before an 11-0 LIU run cut the deficit to seven points with 3:23 remaining. Saint Francis held off the LIU surge and led by at least eight points throughout the remainder of the game before its 62-51 victory.

FLASH NUGGETS
The 11 total three-point shots made were the most by Saint Francis since Jan. 11, 2020 against St. Francis Brooklyn. Saint Francis' previous season-high total was seven scored against Towson on Nov. 19.
 
McConnell set a career-high in points, which was previously five against St. Francis Brooklyn on Jan. 6, 2022. She scored a season-high three points six times this season before her breakout performance.
 
Ward converted a season-high three three-point field goals after she scored two twice this season. She also produced her third double-digit scoring game of the season.
 
NEXT
Saint Francis returns home for a 6 p.m. tip-off on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day against Sacred Heart. The Jan. 16 matchup will be streamed on ESPN+.