DAVENPORT, Iowa -- A combined 38 points between Tykara Harrison and Le'lani Harris and two others scoring in double figures enabled the University of St. Francis women's basketball team to eke out an 81-76 overtime victory against Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe St. Ambrose University (Iowa) on Saturday afternoon.

Harrison recorded her fourth 20-point game of the season, and was one of the USF four players to score at least 12 points, netting 20 to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Harris matched that same rebounding total while scoring 18 points, while Coryn Fromm and Laurelei Thormeyer scored 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Others reaching the scoring column included Baylei Johnson (9 points), Abby Shepard (6 points) and Symone Harrell (3).

St. Ambrose (6-11, 4-6 CCAC) countered with three players hitting for at least 15 points, topped by Caitlyn Thole's 25.  Abby Wolter added 17.

USF's free throw shooting was a key factor in the game as the Saints, who were outscored 56-65 from the field, made good on 25 of their 28 free throw attempts for an .893 reading.  The majority of the attempts came in the second half and overtime, the latter of which saw St. Francis make 15 of its 16 tries.

USF's long-range shooters also delivered, outscoring that of St. Ambrose's 30-15.  SAU took charge in the paint, however, capturing a 40-22 point advantage which was assisted by a 44-36 rebounding differential that resulted in a 19-9 Fighting Bee benefit in second chance points.

The Saints (15-3, 8-2) held their biggest advantage in the second quarter, leading by a 34-28 count with just over three minutes remaining.  St. Ambrose, however, would to cut the deficit to four points, 38-34, at the break, before retaking the lead 51-50 midway through the third period.

SAU, which put together an 8-0 run at the end of the third quarter, added a second 10-5 burst in the fourth.  Four separate Bees were able to score during the four-minute stretch, turning a 60-55 game into the Bee's biggest lead of the afternoon at 70-60 with 3:44 to play.

St. Ambrose, however, could not keep their momentum as a combination of poor shooting and forced turnovers by the Saints' defense enabled St. Francis to rally with 10 unanswered points in the closing three minutes to extend the contest.

The Saints held a four-point margin with two minutes to play in the extra frame before a SAU three-pointer cut the gap to one (77-76) at the 1:04 mark.  Head coach John McGinty's club then hit 4-of-4 free throws the rest of the way to seal the victory.

Up Next
The Saints will face off against Trinity Christian College on Wednesday, January 22.  The contest tips off at 5 pm in the Sullivan Center.

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