CHICAGO --- A 13 point scoring advantage in the third quarter proved to be the difference for NAIA No.23 ranked Saint Xavier University in staving off the University of St. Francis women's basketball team 71-66 at the Shannon Center on Saturday afternoon. The battle was a matchup of two of the top three teams in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

USF (13-6, 10-2 CCAC) is among others receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll.

Trailing the entire second quarter, including by their widest margin of the opening half 33-26, the Saints used a closing 11-3 run to take a 37-36 edge into the break. Eight of the points came at the free throw line ending with Jordan Pyle's make with 40 seconds remaining.

But after Pyle made another free throw to open the third quarter, Saint Xavier (12-5, 10-1) tallied 19 of the next 26 points to produce the first double figure lead of the contest for either squad at 55-45. The Cougars would eventually take a 12 point lead into the fourth quarter, the largest advantage for either squad on the afternoon after shooting a game best 62.5 percent for the eight-minute period (10-of-16). That  came at the same time as the Saints hit just four of their 12 attempts from the field and the only quarter in which they did not make a three pointer.

They made up for that in the fourth quarter when they converted on 5-of-8 treys to get back in the game. Three of those came in the game's closing 64 seconds when the Saints battled back from a nine point deficit in the last 2:38. 

Pyle was a perfect 4-for-4 from long distance en route to a game high 25 points, her second best effort of the season. Her trey off the glass with 31 seconds left made things really interesting as it got the Saints to a one-possession game at 67-64. Saint Xavier missed a pair of free throws the next time down the court, but the Saints missed a layup with 21 seconds to play and the Cougars converted their final four free throws for the victory.

Saint Xavier finished the game shooting 45.6 percent from the field (26-of-57) to USF's 40 percent mark (22-of-55). The Saints countered that by hitting 50 percent of their three pointers (8-of-16) to Saint Xavier's 6-of-23 report (26.1 percent). Both teams shot less than 70 percent at the foul line, while the Cougars outscored the Saints' bench 25-12 in a game that featured four ties and six lead changes.

Pyle finished the contest not only leading both teams in scoring, but rebounding, as well, with her 11 boards producing her third double-double in the last four games. She also had four steals.

USF's other double figure scorers were Kalyn Sias-Chaney (13 points) and Andriana Acosta, who just missed a double-double herself with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Saint Xavier, which totaled six blocked shots in the game, was led by McKenna Zobel's 18 points and seven rebounds. Alyssa Crenshaw came off the bench to provide 15 points, while Sidney Lovitsch and Brianna Flayter each chipped in with 10 points.

Up Next
The Saints travel to Indiana University South Bend on Wednesday to face the Titans for the second time this season. USF won the first meeting 68-54 at the Sullivan Center on Nov. 3. Tip off is scheduled for 4 pm Central time.

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