Women's Basketball | 7/21/2026 4:07:00 PM

In her final game at DeGol Arena, Alli Williams had an incredible curtain call. In a wild NEC quarterfinal match up, she scored a career-high 47 points in a 132-124 double-overtime win over Sacred Heart. Just six days earlier, she scored 47 in a win over Wagner.

It was the type of high-scoring basketball Saint Francis fans were accustomed to watching during her Hall of Fame career.

"We called it organized chaos," Williams said, smiling. "That's how I roll."

Under former head coach Joe Haigh, Williams always had the green light.

"Joe's offense was how I loved to play. Very intuitive. In the moment. Reading plays. Reading players. I loved the freedom he gave us."

Williams won multiple state championships at nearby Bishop Guilfoyle High School in Altoona.

Sought after by many colleges, the winning tradition at Saint Francis was one of the reasons she wanted to play here.

Under head coach Susan Robinson, Williams made an immediate impact as a freshman. She came off the bench and played a key role in Saint Francis winning its 11th NEC championship.

When Haigh took over two seasons later, he built his offense around the 6-foot power forward. Williams was not a traditional post player. Haigh recognized her unique skill set. She could defend all positions and score from just about anywhere on the court. She excelled in the kind of motion offense common in today's NBA game.

"I thought of her as a Lawrence Taylor or Troy Polamalu type of player on a basketball floor," Haigh said. "I wanted her to use her talent, to play free and instinctively. As a result, she also made her teammates better."

Williams had a monstrous senior season averaging 25.3 points per game. That was fifth best in the nation. She finished her career at SFU with 2,178 career points and became the 11th Division I player to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 steals.

"I allowed her to be herself. Alli is an unselfish person. She got into incredible shape and put in the hard work to improve her skills," Haigh added. "She was always humble. Just a joy to be around."

The success on the hardwood transferred to the classroom as she was named the NEC Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year twice (2012-13 and 2013-14).

After graduation, Williams went on to play professional basketball in Europe. She played in Greece and Germany before winning another championship in Luxembourg.

 

Hall of Fame Reflections

"Alli was a transformational player for our program who possessed great versatility, deceiving speed, and a very competitive spirit. Because of her humbleness and her unique gifts, she was a joy to coach. We are all proud of all she has done to Become That Someone in the lives of others. She is very deserving of being a hall of famer." – Susan Robinson-Fruchtl, former SFU women's basketball head coach.