Box Score

LORETTO, Pa. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team fell to the Saint Francis University, 111-89, on Saturday at DeGol Arena in Northeast Conference action. With the victory, the Red Flash improve to 4-10 (2-1 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 1-13 (0-3 NEC) overall.

Saint Francis started the game off at a torrid pace and jumped out to an 18-0 lead after the first five minutes. The run would eventually extend to 28-6 before the Knights started to claw their way back. During that scorching run, Saint Francis shot 6-of-10 from long distance and committed just one turnover along with six assists.

FDU would outscore the Red Flash by 10 over the rest of the first half, including a 16-4 run going into halftime, where the Knights trailed 56-44.

FDU outrebounded the Saint Francis, 28-22, and shot 40.5 percent from the field, a better margin than the hosts. However, it was the Red Flash's long-distance shooting (39%) and 17 free throws that proved to be the difference.

The second half was nearly identical to the first. The Red Flash outscored the Knights, 55-45, over the final 20 minutes and connected on 8-of-20 three's in the second stanza.

FDU finished the contest at 42.7 percent from the field and held Saint Francis to 41.6 percent. But the Knights made only 3-of-13 from three-point range and committed 27 turnovers. FDU won the battle on the glass, 54-44, including 20 on the offensive end, which led to 17 second-chance points.

Sophomore Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) led the way with 15 points and eight rebounds, and junior Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) enjoyed her first career 10-assist game and second career double-double (12 points, 10 assists).

Several Knights' enjoyed career nights. Sophomore Anastasia Williams (Central Islip, N.Y./St. John the Baptist Diocesan) matched career highs in points and rebounds with 10 and 11. Freshman Valerie Oyakhilome (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) posted a new career high with 12 points, and junior Tiffany Grant (Odenton, Md./Arundel) notched a career-best four assists.

"The pace of the game was fast," Head Coach Peter Cinella said. "We had major foul trouble with three starters fouling out in less than 20 minutes of playing.  But we outrebounded them by 10, had five players score in double-figures and dished out 16 assists."

Alexa Howard led Saint Francis with 25 points (seven made three's), while NEC Player of the Year candidate Alli Williams added 22 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

FDU will return to action on Monday, Jan. 13 when it travels to Moon Township, Pa. to face Robert Morris in NEC action. Tipoff at the Sewell Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.