WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Gemma Walker notched a career-high 15 points, playing in backyard so to speak. Walker, a native of Venetia, Pa., which is 19 minutes from the Petersen Events Center, had the best night of her collegiate career in the Saint Francis loss to Pittsburgh in non-conference women's basketball action on Thursday.
>> Shelby Ricks registered her second double-double of the season, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds.Â
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
After the Red Flash scored the first basket of the game, the Panthers went on a 20-2 run to take the lead for good en route to a 98-46 win.
FLASH MOMENTS
Bati Assefa gave the Red Flash a 2-0 lead on a jumper 40 seconds into the game. Ricks and Giselle Eke also had baskets in the quarter.Â
In the final six minutes and 30 seconds of the second quarter, the Red Flash outscored Pitt 7-6. Ricks scored in the lane, Aleah James hit a jumper before a great shot by Makyiah Ward. The freshman heard the coaches say five seconds because the team had five seconds to get the ball over mid court, but Ward called the bank with 20 seconds left on the shot clock.
Saint Francis scored 20 points in the third quarter sparked by eight points by Walker. The Red Flash had a run of six of eight points in the frame thanks to two free throws by Cassandra Hawthorne, a jumper by Hawthorne and a jumper by Walker. The sophomore Walker added two more free throws and a jumper to have eight points in the stanza. The Loretto program then had a 6-3 spurt in the final 90 seconds thanks to layups by James, Ward and Ricks.Â
Ricks reached double figures in points with a ring around the rim 3-pointer to start the scoring in the final quarter. Walker reached double digits for the first time in her career with a jumper at 3:15 in the fourth quarter.Â
FLASH NUGGETS
Walker played her first collegiate game in the arena after playing AAU games in the building in high school. Walker registered eight of her career-high 15 points in the third quarter, and then she had seven points in the final frame. The sophomore had a career-high four points twice in her career and she doubled that total in a 10 minute span in front of friends and family.Â
Ricks registered her second double-double this season and the third of her career. All three times she has hauled in 10 rebounds has resulted in a double-double for the graduate student. The 12 rebounds were one off her career-high, while she reached double figures in points for the fifth time in her career and 11th time in her career.
Ward stuff the stat sheet with five points, three assists, two steals and two blocks. The two rejections were a career high
Desire Short made her Saint Francis debut in the third quarter.Â
NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis returns to action on Sunday at Fordham to wrap up non-conference play. Game time is 1 p.m.
