JOLIET, Ill. --- Limiting its third straight opponent to no more than 45 points, the University of St. Francis women's basketball team extended its winning streak at home to 18 straight game with a 78-45 decision over Bethel University (Ind.) at the Pat Sullivan Center on Monday night.  The victory closed out a three-game homestand.

USF (5-1) was at its best defensively, forcing a season-high 28 turnovers resulting in 28 points.  The Saints also held Bethel (4-3) to just 27.1 percent shooting with the Pilots converting only 13 of their 48 attempts from the field.  St. Francis, meanwhile, was just one made three-pointer shy of shooting 50 percent from both that range and overall.

Like they have throughout their current four-game winning streak, the Saints jumped on top from the game's onset.  Following the third tie of the game at 10-all, head coach John McGinty's club ran off 12 unanswered points to close out the quarter with a 22-10 advantage.

For the quarter, USF shot 52.9 percent from the field (9-of-17) and 50 percent from three-point range (4-of-8).  Only once after that did Bethel get the deficit back under double figures before the Saints methodically worked the lead to as high as 36 points midway through the fourth quarter.

Pacing USF's 10-person scoring unit was Braxtin Mickens, who went 8-for-16 from the field to net a career-high 18 points.  The two other double-figure scorers were Justene Charlesworth (12 points) and Jorja Bolton (11).  Charlesworth collected all 12 of her points on four three-pointers, while Bolton connected three times from long range.

Jordan Pyle led all rebounders with 11 boards.  She also provided six assists, two shy of Hannah Swiatek's team-best eight.

Maiah Shelton led Bethel with 14 points.

Notes: Over its last three games, USF's defense has held the opposition to a combined .232 field goal percentage (39-of-168) … Ten different Saints contributed to Bethel's 28 turnovers by recording at least one steal among the team's 13 total … For the fourth game in a row, Charlesworth has hit no less than four three-pointers … Swiatek's eight assists were a career high … The Saints hit the road on Wednesday when they return to Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play against Trinity Christian College.  Tipoff is 5:30 pm.

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