JOLIET, Ill. --- Talia Pellegrini and the University of St. Francis women's basketball team opened 2024 with a bang with Pellegrini authoring a career-high 34 points and the Fighting Saints scoring a season-high 90 points in a 90-80 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Olivet Nazarene University on Wednesday night at the Pat Sullivan Center.

USF (7-6, 3-2 CCAC) jumped out to a decisive 18-3 lead after the game's first six minutes and held a 29-9 advantage after the first quarter.  Pellegrini had a lot to do with that, outscoring Olivet Nazarene alone, 18-9, in the period.

From there, the St. Francis lead hovered between 15-and-22 points over the next two periods.  Olivet Nazarene (5-9, 2-4) did get the deficit down to single digits (76-67) with just over five minutes remaining in the contest, but the Saints righted the ship, going on a 10-2 run late to seal up the win.

Head coach John McGinty's club took a 54-33 lead into the break courtesy of a 22-for-37 shooting mark (.595) over the contest's first 20 minutes.  The Saints would finish at .516 (33-of-64) for the game, their best shooting mark of the season.  They would also connect on ten three-pointers and go 14-for-16 at the foul line.

Olivet Nazarene, which was bothered by a 4-for-15 start (.267) to its shooting night, rebounded to convert at a .509 clip (26-of-51) over its final three quarters. 

Besides its scoring advantage, USF also controlled the boards 41-29 with Mia Kennelly registering her second double-double of the season.  She led all rebounders with 14 caroms, while totaling 15 points and seven assists.  All of those numbers were either career bests or tied career highs.

Pellegrini's 34 points came on 11-of-16 shooting from the field with six three-pointers and going a perfect 6-for-6 at the foul line.

Three other Saints also scored in double figures.  Baylei Johnson and Tykara Harrison each chipped in 11 points, while Jorja Bolton contributed ten points, six assists and four steals.

Preslee Michael led Olivet Nazarene with 21 points.

Notes: Pellegrini's 34 points and 11 field goals made were both season highs for a Saint player this year, while her six treys tied the season-best mark … Kennelly's double-double was the third of her career with the 14 rebounds being a season high for any Saint this season.  The seven assists tied a club-high mark … Bolton set a new personal best with her six assists, while tying her mark for steals with four … Besides its point total, the Saints' 33 field goals made and 24 assists were also season highs … The win came following a 12-day layoff … The Saints are back in CCAC action on Saturday when they head to Holy Cross College for a noon tip-off.    

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