JOLIET, Ill. --- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (Ind.) denied the University of St. Francis women's basketball team from extending its season-opening winning streak to four games, while also ruining the Fighting Saints' home opener with an 85-77 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Sullivan Center.

A 17-3 run midway through the first quarter by the guests proved to be the difference in the end as the Saints (3-1) could never get closer than four points the rest of the way.  Trailing 9-4 at the start, the Pomeroys (2-0) hit six consecutive shots – including three from long range – and a pair of free throws to open up a 21-12 lead.

St. Francis cut the deficit to four points in three of the four quarters and was as close as five points twice in the third quarter.  The Saints pulled to within 63-59 early in the fourth quarter and again 70-66 with 5:21 to play only to have SMWC use a late 9-1 run to build its biggest lead of the contest (79-67) and seal its second victory in as many days.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods hit 10 of its first 13 shots of the contest to build the lead it would never relinquish.  For the game, the Pomeroys shot 48.4 percent from the field (31-of-64) and 8-of-17 from three-point range (47.1 pct.).  They were also aided by their bench, which accounted for 51 of the team's 85 points.

For the Saints, all but 11 of their points came from the starting five, topped by Tykara Harrison's 23 points and seven rebounds.  She connected on 13-of-16 free throws.

Other contributors included Laurelei Thormeyer and Lauren Knight with 15 points each and Le'lani Harris with 13. 

St. Francis shot 36.1 percent from the field (22-of-61), but was just 4-for-21 from long range (19 pct.).

Up Next
The Saints head to NCAA I Bradley University for an exhibition game on Thursday (Nov. 7).

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