JOLIET, Ill. --- The University of St. Francis women's basketball team wiped out a 22-point first-half deficit and had a chance to force overtime at the end of regulation, but came up short in falling 79-76 to Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Indiana University Northwest at the Pat Sullivan Center on Saturday afternoon.

A season-high-tying five Fighting Saint players scored in double figures to fuel the big comeback, topped by Tykara Harrison's game- and season-high 18 points off the bench.  Talia Pellegrini was one point off that pace with her career-high 17 markers keyed by a team-best four three-pointers.

Jorja Bolton also managed a season-high 14 points, while Baylei Johnson and Mia Kennelly each totaled 10 points.  The latter also recorded her first double-double of the season with her career-high 11 rebounds.

Indiana University Northwest (5-4, 2-1 CCAC) countered with four starters in double figures led by Makayla Best's 17 points.  Tiara Jackson (16 points, 18 rebounds) and Samantha Martin (12 points, 15 rebounds) authored double-doubles for the RedHawks.

USF's largest deficit of 34-12 came midway through the second quarter and it trailed by 21 points with just 100 seconds remaining in the opening half.  That is when the Saints slowly started pecking away at the deficit, closing out the half on an 8-2 run fueled by three-pointers from Pellegrini and Kennelly.

St. Francis (5-4, 2-1) eventually worked the deficit down to six points (55-49) with one minute remaining in the third quarter only to have Indiana Northwest regain a double-figure lead of 13 points to open the final period.  The Saints then went on a 19-6 scoring spree over the next six minutes to force just the second tie of the game at 72-all with 2:50 to play.  Five USF players led that charge with Pellegrini, Harrison and Johnson each contributing a pair of baskets.

Indiana Northwest responded with the next five points in a 29-second span, while the Saints nearly matched that by the 49-second mark of regulation with four straight points.  The guests would then miss four of six free throws down the stretch to give the Saints a pair of chances to force one final tie, but it was not to be as USF missed on a layup with two seconds to play and a three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Saints' big rally was sparked by their defense, which gained 27 points off 21 Indiana Northwest turnovers, 14 of which came after the break.  Bolton and Kennelly each had four steals for the home team.

Notes: Johnson and Harrison both just missed out on recording back-to-back double-doubles with their nine and eight rebounds, respectively … Kennelly's double-double was the second of her career … USF's nine turnovers were a season low … The Saints host Aquinas College (Mich.) on Wednesday in a non-league matchup.     

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