Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. --- Relying on the same recipe for success as three days earlier, the University of St. Francis kept its perfect record to start the season intact with starter Le'lani Harris and reserve Talia Pellegrini topping the Fighting Saints' scoring charts in a 67-59 road win against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on Saturday afternoon.

Harris led USF (3-0) in scoring for the third straight game with her 18 points, while also providing four thefts.  Pellegrini came off the bench to total 12 markers.

The victory proved to be a team effort with numerous other contributors, including Akyia Baker (9 points), Mia Kennelly (8 points, 4 steals), Tykara Harrison (8 points) and Laurelei Thormeyer (team-high six steals, 5 points).

The game was tight throughout with the lead getting into double figures – all by the Saints – just three times on the afternoon.  Saint Mary-of-the-Woods' only lead came on the first basket of the game before the Saints answered with 12 of the next 15 points.  USF's advantage for much of the next 16 minutes hovered between the four- and eight-point range. 

Using a 10-1 run early in the third quarter sparked by five points from Baker, the Saints took their largest lead of the day at 42-30.  By quarter's end, however, the Pomeroys (0-1) would force a tie at 51-all with a string of eight unanswered points.

St. Francis would score the first six points of the fourth quarter – four by Harris – to take the lead for good.  The hosts would get the deficit back down to two and three points later in the frame before the Saints wrapped up the win by scoring the final five points of the contest.

Samara Douglas was the only Pomeroy player to score in double figures, finishing with ten points.

St. Francis scored one less basket than Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (20-21), but the Saints outscored the Pomeroys 21-11 at the foul line and shot nine percent better (77.8 pct.-68.8 pct.) at the charity stripe.

Notes: Harris has scored no fewer than 17 points in each of her last six games dating back to last season … Thormeyer's six steals were a career high … The Saints have forced no less than 23 turnovers in each of their first three contests of the year … St. Francis has the next six days off before hosting the CCAC/Crossover League Classic next weekend beginning with a date against University of Saint Francis (Ind.) on Friday at 5 pm.   

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