JOLIET, Ill. --- Le'lani Harris came off the bench to score a game-high 25 points and the University of St. Francis women's basketball team took advantage of second-chance opportunities to score an 82-74 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Holy Cross College on Saturday afternoon at the Sullivan Center.  The win was the third in a row for USF and the ninth in its last ten games.

Harris book-ended 21 of her points in the first (10) and fourth quarters (11), accounting for no less than half of the Fighting Saints' total output in each of those frames.  She was a perfect 7-for-7 at the foul line and also contributed six rebounds and two steals.

Harris was one of three USF players to score in double figures.  Laurelei Thormeyer was next in line with 18 points, with half of those coming on a trio of three-pointers.  Tykara Harrison added 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

St. Francis (12-2, 5-1 CCAC) outscored Holy Cross 15-1 on second-chance points courtesy of a 42-25 difference in rebounding.  Symone Harrell led the Saints' charge with nine boards, while Baylei Johnson (7 points) matched Harrison with seven caroms.

Holy Cross (8-6, 2-4) held the lead for the first 15 minutes of the opening half until the Saints went on a 10-2 run midway through the second period.  Thormeyer started it with her three-pointer and three other teammates also played a role in sending the hosts into the locker room with a 41-36 lead at the break.

Holy Cross would make it a one-possession game no less than six times in the second half, but each time the Saints would come up with a clutch basket to extend the advantage.  USF's defense then locked in late, holding the visitors scoreless over a 4:31 span, while totaling eight points itself to go up 74-65 with 3:17 to play.  Holy Cross would never get closer than five points the rest of the way.

Both teams presented nearly-identical shooting numbers, including both squads being near-perfect at the free-throw line.  Holy Cross was 16-of-18, while USF was 15-of-18.  The Saints, however, made four more field goals and one more three-pointer.

Holy Cross was also led off the bench by La'Bria Austin (18 points).  Grace Adams provided a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Up Next
The Saints go on the road Wednesday to face league-leading Governors State University in a 5:30 pm tip-off.

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