CHICAGO --- After holding Saint Xavier University to just 21 first-half points, the University of St. Francis women's basketball team was limited to the same point total after the break in dropping a 68-54 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference decision to Saint Xavier University on Wednesday night at the Shannon Center.  

The Fighting Saints (7-10, 3-6 CCAC) broke an 18-all tie in the first half in a big way, scoring 13 of the game's next 14 points to take their biggest lead of the night at 31-19 with just under three minutes to play before the break.  Tykara Harrison produced seven of her team-high 18 points during the five-minute scoring spree with Baylei Johnson and Keijah Gray each contributing a three-point play.

Two big runs turned the tide for Saint Xavier (9-7, 7-2) in the second half with the Cougars using a 10-1 burst in the third quarter to force a 40-all tie.  They followed with another 16-2 surge over a four-minute timespan in the fourth frame to open up a 66-51 lead with 3:23 remaining in the contest.

After shooting just 25 percent (7-of-28) in the game's first 20 minutes, Saint Xavier caught fire in the second half converting at a 62.5 percent clip (20-of-32).  The Saints, meanwhile, shot 47.5 percent (19-of-40) over the first three quarters before dipping to 16.7 percent (2-of-12) in the final quarter. 

Of USF's 17 turnovers, 12 also came in the second half leading to a 25-12 scoring advantage for SXU on the night.

Besides her 18 points, 11 of which came in the second quarter when USF outscored Saint Xavier 17-5, Harrison also totaled six rebounds, three assists and three steals.  Johnson was the only other Saint to score in double figures, finishing with 12 markers.

Jaidn Green (21 points) and Eleanor Harris (16 points, eight rebounds) led Saint Xavier.    

Notes: The contest included ten ties and six lead changes … Harrison amassed ten-or-more points for the tenth straight game … Johnson hit that mark for the third game in a row and the fifth time in six contests … The Saints were held to a season-low .182 shooting percentage (2-of-11) from three-point range on the night … USF is back home on Saturday to take on CCAC foe St. Ambrose University in a 1 pm contest at the Sullivan Center.

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