LORETTO, Pa.  – Saint Francis University women's basketball fell to its former Northeast Conference rival Robert Morris 61-50 in the opening game of the 2023-24 season.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Kaitlyn Maxwell went 7-of-14 with game-high 18 points and added two assists.
» Yanessa Boyd scored eight points, while Kendall Carruthers added six and two steals.  
» Harris Robinson grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, followed by eight by Marina Artero.
» Robert Morris' Simone Morris and Alejandra Mastral both scored a team-high 13 points.

TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME
The first quarter stayed within at most four points and Robert Morris led 17-15 after the first frame. The Colonials then outscored the Red Flash 20-6 in the second quarter and took a 37-21 lead into halftime.
 
Out of the half and down 41-24, Saint Francis put together an 18-4 run and cut the deficit to three points, 45-42. Robert Morris closed out the third quarter with a three-point field goal and opened a 48-42 lead. Maxwell scored 14 of her 18 points in the third quarter.
 
Saint Francis chipped away at the lead and cut it to two points, 52-50, with 3:45 remaining in the game. Robert Morris responded with a 9-0 run to end the game and clinch its 11-point victory.  

FLASH NUGGETS
After missing the entire 2022-23 season due to injury, Maxwell tied a career-high with four made three-point field goals in her return. Her 18 points scored tied the third largest single-game output of her career and was three points shy of a career-high.
 
Four freshmen saw playing time, Artero, Boyd, Carruthers and Kameryn Dorsey, and they combined for 18 points, 19 rebounds, five assists and four steals.
 
Robinson grabbed nine rebounds after totaling just two all season in 2022-23.
 
NEXT
Saint Francis returns to the court on the road on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. against Canisius.