BOURBONNAIS, Ill. ---
Le'lani Harris scored a career-high 28 points with three three-pointers and
Symone Harrell pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds as the University of St. Francis women's basketball team ran its winning streak to a season-high six games with its 91-77 victory over Olivet Nazarene University in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday night.
Aiding the effort was the Saints' 20-of-32 shooting effort (.625) after the intermission, led by Harris' explosion of 24 points during that timeframe. After going just 2-for-10 from the field in the game's first 20 minutes, the junior guard adjusted after the break to post a .900 shooting percentage (9-for-10) from the floor with two of her three treys coming in the fourth quarter.
Laurelei Thormeyer provided another 15 points and five assists, while
Baylei Johnson contributed 13 points and nine rebounds.
Coryn Fromm and
Tykara Harrison also registered double-digits in points with 12 markers apiece.
Olivet Nazarene (5-5, 3-1 CCAC) also had three players score in double figures, led by Olivia Dirkse's 17 points and three treys.
The Tigers controlled the first quarter, holding the scoring advantage in their favor throughout the first 10 minutes. The Saints were able to close the gap, however, and tied the score at 21-21 with a 7-0 run to start the second period. A back-and-forth battle ensued from there with neither team holding more than a two-point advantage through the halftime break.
Tied at 41-all two minutes into the second half, USF (9-1, 4-0) scored 14 of the game's next 22 points sparked by seven points and an assist from Fromm to give the guests their biggest lead of the quarter at 55-49 with 3:54 remaining in the period. The Tigers fought back to tie the score at 58-58 before Harrison and Harris combined for two free throws and a three-pointer, respectively, in the final minute to give the Saints a 63-58 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes.
The game looked to be one that would come down to the wire with each team exchanging points through the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. After an ONU steal and layup in the back court marked the score at 77-74 in favor of USF, the Fighting Saints would explode with a 14-3 run over the game's final four minutes to close the contest with the commanding 91-77 victory.
Up Next
St. Francis will be on the road Saturday, Dec. 14 when it travels to South Bend, Ind. to take on Indiana University South Bend. Tip-off is scheduled to commence at 12 pm.
You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.
