UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. -- Le'lani Harris tied her career high in points, while authoring her ninth career double-double (28 points, 11 rebounds) and Tykara Harrison (15 markers) notched her 26th double-digit scoring performance of the 2024-25 season, but neither feat could overcome Governors State University's dominance of the offensive glass and aggressive defensive strategy in the University of St. Francis women's basketball team's 70-64 loss to the Jaguars in the championship game of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on Monday night.

St. Francis (24-7) authored better shooting numbers on the evening, but the Saints got beat on the offensive boards by the hosts with GSU pulling down more than twice as many rebounds (18-8) to that of USF.  Governors State (26-5) managed to hit just 21 of its 58 field-goal attempts (36.2 pct.) in the contest, while the Fighting Saints were able to convert 22 of their 46 tries (47.8 pct.).  The Jaguars also struggled from behind the arc, sinking only four of their 15 attempts (26.7 pct.).  In the end, however, the shooting percentages would take a backseat to Governors State's aggressiveness and defense, which resulted in a seven-point swing in second-chance opportunities (11-4) as well as a 20-7 advantage on points off turnovers.

For GSU, Zareia Chevre topped all scorers and rebounders with her breakout performance of 38 points and 11 caroms.

The Jaguars started the first quarter with a 9-6 lead, but, by the end of the frame, USF was able to force a nine-point advantage (24-15) before being outscored in each of the three remaining quarters.  The Saints dropped 46.1 percentage points in field goal accuracy between the first (10-for-13, 76.9 pct.) and second quarters (4-for-13, 30.8 pct.)  before resting at a comfortable 40 percent mark (8-for-20) for the second half.

After trailing the majority of the third quarter, head coach John McGinty's club did take the lead back (40-39) with 6:31 to go in the frame.  The advantage was short-lived, however, as the Jaguars retaliated with a quick jumper 14 seconds later.  That lead change would be the last of the evening between the two squads.

St. Francis was able to get the deficit down to one point (63-62) late in the fourth quarter only to have Governors State go on a 6-0 run over a two-minute span to regain control with a seven-point lead (69-62).  Harris would connect for the last layup with one minute remaining in the eventual six-point loss.

Up Next
By securing the CCAC regular-season and tournament titles, Governors State earned the league's first automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round with Olivet Nazarene University claiming the second berth via its second-place finish during the regular season.  The Saints are still in contention to receive an at-large bid, but will have to wait until the 64 qualifying teams are announced on Thursday at 6 pm to find out if their season is extended.

You can keep up with all things USF on X @USFSaints.