LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University women's basketball defeated LIU 61-56 at home ahead of its 12-day break between games.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Kendall Carruthers had a team-high 19 points, six assists and two steals.
» Julianna Gibson had her first-career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
» Harris Robinson had a career-high 10 rebounds and added five points.
» Marissa Shelton scored 11 points and went 3-of-6 from three-point territory.
» LIU's Amaya Dowdy had a game-high 25 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks.

TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME
Saint Francis jumped out to an early 8-2 lead three minutes into the game. After LIU was within two points, 10-8, with 2:34 remaining, Saint Francis built to a five-point, 16-11 lead at the end of the frame. In the second quarter, LIU held a 16-6 advantage and took a 27-22 lead into halftime.
 
The Red Flash responded with a 13-8 run to start the third quarter and tied the game at 35 with 2:27 remaining. A back-and-forth finish to the third quarter saw the teams tied at 39 headed to the fourth.
 
With the score tied at 43 with 7:02 remaining, Saint Francis went on a 7-2 run and took a 50-46 lead with 5:04 remaining. LIU was back within three points, 50-47, with 3:46 remaining before an 8-5 Red Flash advantage saw Saint Francis lead 58-52 with 1:03 remaining. Saint Francis led by at least three points in the final minute before clinching the five-point victory behind converted free throws from Carruthers.

FLASH NUGGETS
The victory was Saint Francis' first this season when trailing at halftime.
 
Gibson's first-career double-double was also the first by a Red Flash player this season. She had a career-high 11 rebounds and has double-digit rebounds in three games this season.
 
Robinson joined Marina Artero, Gibson and Destini Ward as Red Flash players with a double-digit rebounding game this season.
 
Shelton has back-to-back double-digit scoring efforts. She scored six of her points in the fourth quarter, which included a three-pointers with 1:03 left to make it a six-point lead.
 
NEXT
Saint Francis has a 12-day break before its only road game in February on the 15th at Wagner for a 7 p.m. tip-off.