SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The University of St. Francis women's basketball team rallied from a 10-point first-quarter deficit by means of a 20-0 run in the first nine minutes of the second quarter, but Indiana University South Bend - which is currently receiving votes in the latest NAIA poll - outscored the Saints 39-30 in the second half to claim a 68-66 victory in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon. The loss snapped a season-high six-game winning streak for USF.
The Fighting Saints (9-2, 4-1 CCAC) trailed 23-13 at the start of the second quarter before taking off by scoring the 20 straight points after a quick IUSB layup to pull ahead 33-25 with 1:15 to play before the halftime break.
Le'lani Harris led the way during the scoring outburst with seven points, while
Laurelei Thormeyer and
Coryn Fromm each contributed a three-pointer.
USF led the entirety of the third quarter before Indiana South Bend (10-1, 4-1) took its first lead since early in the contest in the final stanza. An 8-2 run to start the fourth period resulted in the Titans jumping ahead 54-53 with just under eight minutes left in the game. USF would gain the lead back and maintain a steady three-to-five-point margin over the next five minutes of play before Indiana South Bend forced a 64-64 tie with 2:32 to go on the clock. Both teams would exchange free throws, knotting the score at 66-all with 42 seconds left in the game. The Saints showcased solid defense on the Titans' last possession, but with just four seconds remaining on the shot clock, a stellar no-look pass from IUSB forward Tenleigh Phelps from the top of the key to an open Bradie Chambers under the basket resulted in the hosts taking a two-point lead. The Saints were unable to respond with a conversion of their own on their final possession, resulting in the 68-66 defeat.
For the game, USF was 22-for-46 from the field (47.8 percent) and 7-for-27 from beyond the arc (25.9 percent), while Indiana South Bend was 23-of-50 from the field (46.0 percent) and 1-for-10 from long range (10.0 percent). The Saints won the rebounding battle 33-24, but committed 22 turnovers to IUSB's 10, leading to 23 points for the hosts.
The Saints turned in a balanced scoring sheet on the day with all eight participants registering their respective name in the scoring column. Harris reached double figures for the eighth time this season with 15 points to go along with four rebounds, while
Tykara Harrison totaled 15 points and three assists. Thormeyer authored three treys to tally her nine markers, while
Baylei Johnson pulled down six boards and contributed nine points with her 4-for-4 performance from the floor.
IUBS's Keylee Hudson led all scorers on the afternoon, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting and five free throws. Jazmen Watts provided another 12 points.
Up Nest
USF is back home on Thursday, December 19 to face University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.) for a 2 pm non-conference affair.
You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.
