WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Despite cutting a double-digit margin to one point with 92 seconds left, Saint Francis falls 59-57 at Stonehill in NEC women's basketball action on Thursday.
>> Gemma Walker paced the Red Flash with 17 points, including the 3-pointer to cut the margin to one point in the final two minutes.
>> Shelby Ricks added a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
Trailing 52-39 with 1:50 left in the third quarter, Saint Francis went on an 18-6 run to cut the margin to 58-57 with 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter on Walker's long-distance call.
Ricks registered a defensive rebound on the ensuing Skyhawks offensive play, but a traveling call did not allow Saint Francis to get a shot off. Stonehill made the front end of two free throws with 2.2 seconds left before missing the second, and Ricks came down with the board with 1.7 seconds left. After a timeout by the Loretto program allowed the ball to be advanced to the Saint Francis end, Walker had a good look from the top of the key, but her shot did not fall to allow Stonehill to escape with the win.
While the game was decided in the waning seconds, Stonehill took the lead in the second quarter with a 20-8 run and held on to earn its fifth-straight win in the series.
FLASH MOMENTS
Fueled by 10 points by Walker, Saint Francis went on an 18-6 run in a span of 10 minutes and 23 seconds to set up the dramatic finish. The Red Flash defense stymied the Skyhawks, who were 2-for-15 from the field, 0-for-6 from behind the arc, and 2-for-2 from the free throw line during the Saint Francis run.
The Red Flash jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first 94 seconds of the game thanks to layups by
Makyiah Ward and
Sajol Thornhill and a trey by Walker.Â
Six different players registered at least two points to aid a 13-6 run to give the Red Flash its largest lead of the first half at 24-15 with 8:32 left.
Desire Short knocked down her first 3-pointer in a Flash uniform to give the visitors their final lead at 29-26 with 3:55 left in the second quarter.
FLASH NUGGETS
Coming off her first career 20-point game, Walker finished 7-for-12 from the floor and 3-for-7 from behind for her second-best scoring output of her career, and her third straight 10+ point performance. She is averaging 16.0 points per game in her last three games, and has four double-figure point games in her last seven tilts.
Ricks tallied her fourth double-double of the season, her first in NEC play and her first since registering consecutive double-doubles to end non-conference play. The graduate student has six double-figure performances in her last eight games. She is averaging 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in that stretch.
Cassandra Hawthorne grabbed eight rebounds, the second most of her career. It was the first time since the first two games of the season that the graduate student hauled in at least eight caroms, after she had career highs of nine against Duquesne on November 3 and 8 against La Salle on November 8.
James chipped in eight points, while Ward stuffed the stat sheet with four points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a block.Â
NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis returns to action on Saturday at CCSU. Game time is 1 p.m.
